BOTTI CELEBRATING AFTER HUNGERFORD

Excelebration trounced his rivals in the CGA Hungerford Stakes at Newbury to pay yet another huge compliment to the brilliant Frankel.

Marco Botti's stable star gave Frankel something to think about in the Greenham Stakes over this course and distance at the start of the season, before going on to claim the German 2000 Guineas.

He was last seen finishing third to Sir Henry Cecil's unbeaten colt in the St James's Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting, and confirmed he is a class act in his own right in this seven-furlong Group Two event.

Settled just off the pace set by stablemate Ceremonial Jade, the 5-4 favourite was asked to quicken a furlong out by Adam Kirby, after which he streaked clear for a six-length demolition of Beacon Lodge under just minimal encouragement.

Kirby said: "He won really well. Marco has done a really good job as he used to pull very hard. He has done well to get him to settle. He gave him a break between here and Ascot and got him back. I'm really pleased."

Botti added: "He's already proved he's a good horse and today he was very impressive. We left a little bit to work on, so I expect him to come on a lot for the run. We will go for another Group One race now.

"There is a big gap between now and Ascot (QEII) so he might go to France, but it all depends how he comes out of this. It could be the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp next month and maybe the QEII. We'll see how he goes from now on.

"Adam said when he asked him to quicken his response was immediate. It's probably unlucky for him to be in the same year as Frankel, without him we would have probably won a Group One. I've never had any doubt he's a Group One horse.

"We thought in the Greenham if we finished close to Frankel we'd have a Group One horse and that is how it has turned out. Frankel is not just a normal good horse, he is something else. To think we can beat him at this stage is probably a bit unrealistic but who knows, a race is a race.

"He was very relaxed beforehand here and didn't sweat. That is a good thing. If he keeps improving, mentally as well as physically, then maybe one day. We had some good days with Gitano Hernando, but the turn of foot this horse has means he is probably the best horse I have had."

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