El Cordobes a new Group winner for Frankel

Jockey William Buick registered a 2,000th British winner aboard Godolphin's ultra-consistent Frankel colt El Cordobes in Thursday's Gr.2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 11th July 2025, by Sean Cronin:

Buick said: "this horse really deserved it. He is an exciting horse, he has a bit of a kick and I am delighted with him."

Originally knocked down to Richard Knight, on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi, for 2 million guineas at the 2022 Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale, El Cordobes was acquired privately by Godolphin in the aftermath of that failed transaction. The 7-2 chance lobbed along in third for the most part, but was shuffled back to last of the four runners as Wimbledon Hawkeye and stablemate Arabian Crown tackled the pacesetting Palladium  at the quarter-mile marker. Easing away from the stands' side fence for a clear passage approaching the final furlong, he was driven out up the hill to defeat the former by two lengths. Arabian Crown was a length and three-quarters back in third while 13-8 favourite Palladium faded to finish 11 lengths adrift.

"We paid a few quid for him and he's got a pedigree that you can like, but he loves quick ground and could become one of our stable's international travellers," said Charlie Appleby. "I stepped him up to the mile-and-six at York for one reason only. I thought maybe he is a [Gr.1] Melbourne Cup horse, but I think he told us there that he wasn't. Needless to say, coming back to the mile-and-a-half, we were confident again."

"It wasn't a tactical race, but they didn't go an end-to-end gallop. If he hadn't got the horse underneath him to pick up then it could have been a bit tricky, but he had the right horse. What we're seeing with him as he gets a little bit older is that he's maturing well and takes his races well. I'd imagine we'll go travelling with him."