Frankel finishes with a bang Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Frankel was described as being out of the ordinary by his equally extraordinary trainer Sir Henry Cecil after his impressive win in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Saturday. Cecil, 68, has already said his superhorse is the best he has ever seen and one wouldn't have found many people to argue with the racing knight after he had eased home four lengths clear for his ninth win in nine starts. Regardless of the internationally respected publication Timeform's assessment that the miler is the fourth best ever European racehorse, Cecil can surmount that obstacle when he brings him back next year albeit over 1 and 1/4 miles. For Cecil - who has battled back from the depths of personal crises and sending out just 12 winners in 2005 - Frankel is a phenomenon as he related in his usual laconic style afterwards. "He's a champion, he's out of the ordinary and hopefully he will continue to prove himself next year," said Cecil, who admitted to having been nervous himself and had chainsmoked by the parade ring during the first three races. "He's a terrific horse. He's done everything we asked of him, and next year he will definitely get a mile and a quarter. "I was nervous because everything has to go right, but he has really grown up and settles very well. He did it really well. "It's been a long year and I'm looking forward to the winter. "I'm very happy. He did everything that we asked, we weren't trying to catch pigeons or anything, we just wanted to win nicely." The 26,000 people who flocked to Ascot and cheered the equine superstar to the rafters on his return, under Irish jockey Tom Queally, to the winners enclosure as they did Cecil will have to bide their time to see him again. "He has had a long year and won't run again this season, we'll put him away for the winter," said Cecil, who stood impassively in the stands as his star crossed the line while all around him lost their composure. Extra pleasure for Cecil is that Frankel is owned by Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah, who together with the Niarchos Family were the only owners to stand by him in the hard times. Abdullah himself had no qualms about where Frankel - named after the Prince's late American trainer Bobby Frankel - stood in his pantheon of great horses, such as 1986 Arc winner Dancing Brave, that he has owned. "He's the best horse I have ever owned," said Abdullah. "Many people think he is the best horse they have ever seen. "I am glad to have this horse. I wasn't expecting a performance like that but he is always like that. "I just hope that he does the same thing next year. "Henry is the best trainer. If he says something I believe him." For Queally too Frankel represented something very special, though, he too paid homage to Cecil, who had stayed loyal to him when there was a clamour for the 26-year-old to be replaced earlier this season after he was criticised for his ride in the St James's Palace Stakes. "He's the horse of a lifetime for the public, let alone the jockey," said Queally, who was winning his 15th Group One race. "Who knows what will happen next year, we have a long winter to get through, but if anyone can get him into next spring it is Henry Cecil. "It's difficult to explain what he means to me, I'm terribly, terribly lucky. "I don't really feel the pressure but it's there. Luckily enough the whip debate took a lot of it off me this week. "I would like to think I handle it pretty well, I enjoy it. I'm not a stone face anyway."