The Problem with Camelot

“The problem with Camelot”


As a three year old colt, the nation doesn’t really latch onto horses that haven’t been around for such a relative short of time. Frankel has had the public support due to his longevity. The superstar has had four runs as a two year old, five runs as a three year old and four runs thus far in his fourth and seemingly final year. The public have gradually got to know, and hear more about this superstar. Camelot however has had merely five runs, two of which in Ireland, and there is still a great deal of unknown about the son of Montjeu.

He came to The Racing Post Trophy with a big reputation having been ear-marked as Coolmore’s ‘one’ for the year, and won impressively. Similar tales with the 2000 Guineas, a trip on pedigree would not suit, and then as expected, hacked up in a really poor renewal of The Derby.

He goes to The St Leger currently a 1/3-2/5 chance, but the Yorkshire and national public don’t have the same affection and fondness that Nijinsky had when winning the triple crown in 1970, he was seen as an absolute superstar, and as such, I can’t see people backing him and leaving their tickets un-cashed to be ‘a part of history’, unlike Frankel and Black Caviar followers at Royal Ascot for example. They had a real aura about them, and a fan base that has followed suit similarly.

The tale is much different to Frankel, as it is two completely different ends of the spectrum. Frankel is trained by Sir Henry Cecil, a trainer LOVED universally throughout the nation, one of the greatest trainers of his generation, a man who has battled and defeated (almost) cancer. He went from being a multiple champion trainer to having just 12 (twelve) winners in 2006, the man was on the brink of retirement. The added story to it is the naming, named after the late Bobby Frankel, who trained for Prince Khalid Abdullah in America; there is real warmth about the tale. Whereas Camelot is owned by a business focused breeding operation, which will be shipped off to stud as soon as the season is finished, he will have to bring home the bacon. Frankel was left in training on the basis that Sir Henry Cecil wanted to see him continue to run, as did owner Prince Khalid.

It has to be said as well, flat racing is currently in the shadow of its jumps counterpart, we are fortunate to enjoy the best of both codes, and although both are thriving, jump racing is seen as the stronger. National Hunt racing is lucky to have had such stars as superstar Gold Cup winners in Denman and Kauto Star, and current stars such as Sprinter Sacre, Big Bucks, Quevega, and Hurricane Fly et al. All of the before mentioned horses have had the much needed benefit of longevity, the wider public know who they are. Big Bucks and Quevega have won for four straight years at The Cheltenham Festival, which is our equivalent of The Breeders Cup. Cheltenham is still the real big punting event for die-hards such as myself, and there is also the Grand National, which is more a spectacle, and one for the casual wider public to have their once a year interest. All aspects are really catered for.

So, unfortunately, everything is against Camelot, in terms of the story, apart from his sire and father, Montjeu passing away earlier this year. Frankel is the real superstar in the eyes of the public, and even then, jump racing is still seen as the pinnacle. Kauto Star and Denman have cemented their status as legendary in the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and most memorably the 2011 Gold Cups.

A hard act to follow.

Camelot runs in The Ladbrokes St Leger – Doncaster 3.45 Saturday

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner
Follow me on Twitter – @JJMSports