The G1 Sussex Stakes was billed as the “Duel on the Downs” but Frankel turned his showdown with Canford Cliffs into a one-horse race at Goodwood on Wednesday.

Frankel (3c Galileo – Kind by Danehill) took the lead from the start and never looked back to win by five lengths.  The Goodwood crowd gave Frankel a rousing reception and then launched into a heartfelt three cheers for trainer Sir Henry Cecil who has fought back from serious health concerns in recent years.

A field of four went to post in the Sussex but all eyes were on Frankel and his older rival Canford Cliffs who was attempting a repeat win in the race.  He defeated Rip Van Winkle 12 months ago and was a last-start winner over champion mare Goldikova in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That counted for nought when jockey Tom Queally went to work on Frankel at the top of the Goodwood straight.  The colt exploded with a breathtaking burst of acceleration that prompted post-race superlatives from his connections.

“He was amazing and I’m fortunate to be a small part of it,” Queally said.  “He’s the best horse I have ever sat on and the best I have ever seen.”

Prince Khalid Abdullah, who bred and races Frankel under his Juddmonte Farm banner, rated his star colt higher than his legendary champion Dancing Brave.  The 1986 Arc de Triomphe winner is the highest ranked Timeform horse in the last 25 years with a rating of 141.

Cecil put his colt right up there with the greats.  “Shergar is the only other horse that has impressed me as much as Frankel,” Cecil claimed.  “He’s probably the best I’ve ever seen.”

Frankel added yet another Group 1 for Coolmore sire Galileo this year.  He was rated Britain’s champion colt last year after a campaign that included a G1 victory in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.  He resumed this term with a truly awesome performance in the G1 English 2000 Guineas and then maintained his unbeaten record with another remarkable victory in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Frankel was named after the late USA Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel who trained Juddmonte’s North American based horses.  The bay colt is out of the Nottingham Listed winner Kind.

Cecil predicted Frankel will stay in training next year and indicated a more immediate target could be the Juddmonte International over 2000m.

Cecil’s previous Sussex wins were with Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (76), Kris (79), Distant View (94) and Ali-Royal (97).