Racing:Frankel stretched his perfect record to 13 when treating his legion of supporters to another breathtaking performance in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
The world’s best racehorse took the step up from a mile to 10-and-a -half furlongs in his stride as he justified highly-restrictive odds of 1-10 without being asked a serious question.
Leading two furlongs out in the hands of Tom Queally, the Henry Cecil-trained colt pulled away to score with consummate ease to lift this Group One prize, sponsored by his owner Khalid Abdullah.
The heroics were witnessed an emotional return to the track for the much-loved Cecil, who has been receiving ongoing treatment for cancer and has not wanted to pick up other infections.
He said: “That was great, wasn’t it?
“It’s fantastic. It’s great for Yorkshire, they are very supportive of racing and they deserve to see him.”
The trainer added the win made him feel "twenty years better.”
Frankel, who has been ridden in all of his races by Queally, is now just one short of 10 Group One victories.
His first success at the highest level came over seven furlongs in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in what was his fourth and final start as a two-year-old. After winning the Group Three Greenham Stakes on his seasonal reappearance as a three-year-old, the son of Galileo swept all before him over a mile.
Successful in the 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2011, it looked for a short while that he might not run this year and be retired. However, he overcame an injury scare in the spring - returning with victory in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May - and has been better than ever this summer.
He more than doubled his five-length margin in the Lockinge when taking the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot by 11 lengths from old foe Excelebration.
Frankel then repeated last summer’s win in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood earlier in the month, before cementing his place in turf history with another scintillating display on the Knavesmire.
York 3.40 Final Result
1 Frankel (T P Queally) 1-10 Fav
2Farhh (L Dettori) 10-1
3St Nicholas Abbey (J P O'Brien) 5-1
9 ran
Also:12-1 Twice Over 4th