Racing: Frankel strolled to victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Officially rated the best horse in the world, Henry Cecil's colt never looked in any danger as he extended his unbeaten record to nine when beating his old rival Excelebration by four lengths under Tom Queally, with French filly Immortal Verse in third.
Cecil employed Bullet Train, Frankel’s three-parts brother, as a pacemaker but while the rest of the field ignored the target, Queally and the 4-11 favourite used him to perfection.
Approaching the three-furlong marker all the other jockeys were begin to ask their mounts to quicken while Queally was still motionless.
Excelebration confirmed himself as the second-best three-year-old around and briefly looked a threat, but when Frankel was asked to seal the race he was imperious.
The race was billed as Frankel’s biggest test and he came through it with flying colours, returning to a rapturous reception from the packed grandstands.
Queally said: “He was as good as ever. He’s getting more professional and he’s getting stronger, he’s the real deal. Not that he wasn’t before.
“The race did suit, but it didn’t suit. Ian (Mongan, on Bullet Train) did a good job putting the pace to the race but I couldn’t get much cover. He lost his cover and I had to change plans a bit, but he waited until I gave him the office and you saw what happened after that.
“He was grown up enough that when there’s horses in front of him he doesn’t have to pass them until I say go. When I did say go he was electric. He’s the horse of a lifetime for the public, let alone the jockey. Who knows what will happen next year, we have a long winter to get through, but if anyone can get him into next spring it is Henry Cecil.
“It’s difficult to explain what he means to me, I’m terribly, terribly lucky. I don’t really feel the pressure but it’s there. Luckily enough the whip debate took a lot of it off me this week. I would like to think I handle it pretty well, I enjoy it. I’m not a stone face anyway.”
Cecil said: “He’s a terrific horse. He’s done everything we asked of him, and next year he will definitely get a mile and a quarter. I was nervous because everything has to go right, but he has really grown up and settles very well. He did it really well.
“It’s been a long year and I’m looking forward to the winter. I’m very happy. He did everything that we asked, we weren’t trying to catch pigeons or anything, we just wanted to win nicely.”
Owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, who can count the likes of Dancing Brave among his great horses, said: “He’s the best horse I have ever owned.
“Many people think he is the best horse they have ever seen. I am glad to have this horse. I wasn’t expecting a performance like that but he is always like that.
“I just hope that he does the same thing next year. Henry is the best trainer. If he says something I believe him.”
Marco Botti said of Excelebration: “We have tried to take Frankel on three times and there is no disgrace. He finished three lengths clear of the rest, so you have to be pleased with him.
“I will have to talk to the owners about what we do next, the only race left for him would be in Hong Kong so we will have to wait and see.”
Rob Collet said of Immortal Verse: “She missed a bit of work, so maybe she was a little bit short but to be honest even if I was 100 per cent happy with her, we would have been delighted to have finished second to Frankel.
“She won’t go to the Breeders’ Cup, but she will definitely stay in training.”