Frankel: earned a provisional Racing Post Rating of 142 for his York win

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

Sublime Frankel slams his International rivals

Report: York, Wednesday

Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) 1m 2½f, 3yo+

FRANKEL illustrated just why he is the best horse in the world as he took the step up to beyond a mile for the first time in his career effortlessly in his stride, slamming his rivals for a 13^th successive win.

The Sir Henry Cecil-trained superstar was backed right down on course to 1-10 to maintain his unbeaten run and he did not disappoint his mammoth band of supporters as he cruised away from his rivals without breaking sweat to win by seven lengths.

Farhh and St Nicholas Abbey had their own battle for second with Godolphin's runner just edging out the Ballydoyle representative by a nose.

Frankel's latest win eclipsed the record of Rock Of Gibraltar as he registered an eighth successive win at the highest level and posted his second biggest winning margin since stepping up into Group 1 company.

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

Asked how Frankel's latest jaw-dropping performance made him feel, Cecil, who is battling serious illness, said: "Probably 20 years better."

With both Robin Hood and Windsor Palace joining St Nicholas Abbey in the race, Aidan O'Brien was able to exploit any weaknesses there may have been in Frankel's stamina. Tom Queally though never had any doubts that his mount would see out this longer trip and he bided his time on board Khalid Abdullah's colt, before making a laughing stock of any challenge the other jockeys may have been mounting, cruising up York's long straight and swooping into the lead well over a furlong from home.  

Winning team: Sir Henry Cecil and Tom Queally talk after the race

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos) 

Queally, who has ridden Frankel in all of his races, said: "It is unbelievable. It was special today as everybody really got behind him and the Yorkshire crowd really appreciated him being here.

"Going that quick a pace helped as there was no funny business - it was end-to-end we were racing and the best horse won and he won comprehensively.

"He was relaxed all the way, he was really in a rhythm, and that is important. None of us had any worry about the trip but you can't get complacent."

Frankel's performance earned him a provisional Racing Post Rating of 142, the same as he got for his breathtaking win in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

It also raised the question over where he goes next. Coral make him a 1-10 chance for the Qipco Champion Stakes while Paddy Power reckon a further step up would not be a problem to Frankel and go 1-3 (with a run) about him for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Frankel posted a winning time of 2min 6.59 seconds with his fastest furlong being the one between three out and two out. He covered that in 11.05 seconds, which equates to 40.73mph. It was however 1.3 seconds slower than the course record Sea The Stars registered when winning this race on similar ground three years ago.