Racing:Frankel will attract rather more attention the next time he appears than in this frenetic fortnight of sporting drama but maintained his standing as the undisputed champion of his own discipline in the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
An end to an unbeaten streak of 11 was considered so unlikely the colt was the 1 to 20 favourite, even if the presence of Farhh in the four-strong field was supposed to provide Frankel with his biggest test this year.
Farhh had finished just behind Nathaniel in the Eclipse, and his conqueror had been within a nose of following up in the King George, but this bona-fide Group One performer was dismantled with ruthless efficiency.
Frankel’s trainer Henry Cecil had instigated in Tom Queally a need to encourage the once-headstrong colt to be more settled, for when he steps beyond a mile, and it was a case of mission accomplished.
Queally sat behind the team’s pacemaker Bullet Train until the final two furlongs and was so encouraged by the feeling from beneath he allowed himself a nonchalant look between his legs to see where his only realistic rival was.
In trouble, was Queally’s answer, and the majestic four-year-old was able to pull even further clear of Farhh than when he vanquished Canford Cliffs in the same event 12 months earlier as he stretched his winning margin to six lengths.
Queally insisted there is no secret to handling the best horse he will ever sit on, and said: “You don’t have to ask him to do an awful lot. He puts distance between himself and the rest without doing anything major.
“Every moment spent on his back is a special moment and today was no different.”
Asked if he could be even better over 10 furlongs, Queally said: “I don’t know. How much better do you want him to get? He’s turning Group Ones into absolute processions. If he’s as good as he is now that should be good enough I’d say.”