FRANKEL INJURED

Just heard Frankel injured season racing in balance

Frankel has suffered an injury in a gallop at home ahead of his planned Flat season comeback next month. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Flat racing's totemic superstar Frankel has sustained a minor injury to his off-fore leg, which threatens to disrupt plans for the start of the new season.

A statement released by the colt's owner Khalid Abdulla's Juddmonte operation quoted the trainer Sir Henry Cecil as saying: "He is such an extravagant mover that he hit himself. At this stage the injury looks superficial but he will be kept monitored over the next few days."

Winner of all nine of his starts to date, including the 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Champion Stakes last season, he was due to make his comeback this term in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on 17 May. Frankel had been pencilled in for a racecourse gallop at Newbury next weekend in preparation for that but those plans may now be up in the air.

Frankel's condition will now be assessed on a daily basis before a decision is taken on whether a change to his timetable is required.

Frankel has been cleared to return to training following a second scan on a "superficial" leg injury.
The 2,000 Guineas winner suffered the injury in Newmarket on Wednesday and required a further scan after it was feared the problem could be serious.
But owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "Frankel has been given the all-clear. There was no evidence of any tendon damage."
The 2011 Cartier horse of the year can now resume his normal training regime.
Following the injury, it looked unlikely that Frankel would be able to compete in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on 19 May.
But this could still remain a possibility according to Grimthorpe.
"There is no set agenda for his future racing programme, which will be determined by the progress he makes. At this stage, the Lockinge Stakes has not yet been ruled out," he said.
The Galileo colt, who is trained by Sir Henry Cecil , has won each of his nine starts to date, including wins in the 2,000 Guineas, the St James's Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.