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Mixed news for Frankel and Snow Fairy

Frankel "worked well" at Newmarket © PA Photos

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Frankel provided a treat for racegoers at Newmarket on Saturday, enjoying a workout ahead of the final race of his career later this year, but there was negative news for Snow Fairy who will not run again this season.

The Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20 is expected to bring the curtain down on Frankel's illustrious career. On Saturday Sir Henry Cecil's charge was put in race conditions - parading him while jockey Tom Queally wore silks - and Frankel went over one mile and a furlong alongside two stable companions.

"He had a nice little blow and we are all delighted," Queally said. "It's exactly what we were looking for. I was happy with him. The last time I'd sat on him was York and it was great to sit on him again. He worked well and seemed as good as ever which would be good enough."

Cecil added: "I read someone saying I was going to retire but the only retiring I'm going to be doing is a good holiday. Frankel had a good blow this morning but this is not D-day.

"I don't think running in the Moulin would have achieved anything and this was ideal and I'd think the Champion Stakes will be his last race. The Prince will make the decision but at the moment that is the idea."

Meanwhile, Snow Fairy will not run the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after Ed Dunlop's mare was ruled out for the rest of the season. Heat around a tendon was cited as the problem, which was clarified by Dunlop.

"She worked yesterday and we were very pleased with her, but last night we found just a little bit of heat in the leg," he said. "Taking everything into consideration with the previous injury she's had, it was too much of a risk to carry on, so we've pulled stumps."

Snow Fairy registered her seventh Group One win and broke the Leopardstown track record when winning the Irish Champion Stakes earlier in the year.

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