Frankel triumphs in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot's Champions Day

Frankel delivered a stirring performance to ensure that a difficult week for racing ended on a high note when taking the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot by four lengths. The 4-11 favourite sat a long way adrift as his stablemate Bullet Train cut out a furious gallop in the early stages.. The crowd fell into an eerie silence as jockey Tom Queally tried his best to keep his mount settled, the other six runners sat further back – preferring to try and play their hands as late as possible. But from halfway it quickly became apparent that Frankel's unbeaten record was in no doubt. Queally shook the reins to send him to the front over a furlong out, and although old rival Excelebration tried his best to stay with the winner, he had no answer to such a brutal turn of speed. Talk of squabbles and strikes was forgotten as the crowd gave the winner the warmest of receptions as he passed the post. Even as he left the winner's enclosure 15 minutes later, the applause was still ringing out. Frankel is now very unlikely to be seen again until next year, when trainer Sir Henry Cecil says he is set to try a mile and a quarter, while a trip to the Breeders' Cup should also be on the agenda. "He lost his cover early on, but he's grown up enough to deal with that and know that he had to wait for me to tell him to go on," said Queally. "There's still a whole lot to look forward to. It looks like he'll never be beaten. Who knows what will happen next year? But if anyone is going to get him through the spring and back for another year, it's going to be Sir Henry."