As Frankel left the care of Sir Henry Cecil on Thursday, the Warren Place trainer paid a glowing tribute to the wonder colt who retired unbeaten after 14 starts.

“It’s a sad day in some ways as he has given us so much pleasure over the last three years,” Cecil said.  “He was such a very special part of my training career.”

Bidding a fond farewell to the Galileo colt, Cecil claimed there has never been a better or more talented racehorse.  “He had the speed to be a champion sprinter and then, once he grew up and settled, he got a distance with a turn of foot that makes champions.  Thank you, Frankel.”

Frankel was bred at Banstead Manor Stud and will begin serving his first book there early next year.  He received a very warm welcome from stud manager Philip Mitchell on Thursday afternoon.  “He was foaled here on February 11 in 2008 at 11.40pm,” Mitchell recalled.  “Little did we realise that we were witnessing the birth of a phenomenal racehorse.

“The rest, as they say, is history and it is now extremely exciting that Frankel will be returning to the stallion unit some 500 yards from where he was born.”

Earlier this week, connections of 2011 Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream announced she will be covered by Frankel after contesting the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March.

Forced to miss her defence of the Arc due to quarantine restrictions, Danedream will be geared toward a Gulf campaign if the lockdown is lifted in time.  The Lomitas mare is owned in partnership by Shadai Stud director Teruya Yoshida and Gestut Berg Eberstein.