Frankel illustrated just why he is the best horse in the world with a 13th successive win in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.

The Sir Henry Cecil-trained superstar maintain his unbeaten run when stepping out to 2100m for the first time.  He cruised home without breaking sweat to win by seven lengths.

Both horse and trainer were given a hero’s reception as thousands packed around the enclosure and Cecil, who was winning this race for a fourth time, told Racing Post:  “It was great wasn’t it?  It is great for Yorkshire, they are great supporters of racing and they deserved to see him.”

With three stablemates engaged, Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien tried to exploit any weaknesses there may have been in Frankel’s stamina.  But there were none as jockey Tom Queally bided his time on board Khalid Abdullah’s all-conquering colt.

They cruised up York’s long straight and swooped into the lead well over a furlong from home.  “He’s unbelievable,” Queally said.  “Going that quick helped as there was no funny business.  He was relaxed all the way, he was really in a rhythm, and that’s important.  None of us had any worry about the trip but you can’t get complacent.”

Frankel (4c Galileo – Kind by Danehill) has been priced at 1-10 for the English Champion Stakes and 1-3 for the Arc de Triomphe in October.  He will be retired to cover his first book of mares at Prince Khalid’s Juddmonte Farms in 2013.

Frankel’s Juddmonte performance was provisionally rated the equal of his breathtaking win in the Queen Anne Stakes in June.  Timeform’s 147 rating after the Royal runaway saw him surpass Sea Bird (145), Brigadier Gerard (144) and Tudor Minstrel (144) as the greatest racehorse of the modern era.

FRANKEL
Seven length winner of the Juddmonte International