QIPCO Champion Stakes 2012 results: Frankel remains perfect

Frankel broke slowly from the gate, hustled to the back of the main pack, and did not appear to be handling the soft ground at Ascot to the best of his abilities. All the same, he powered to the front under minimal urging to win the Group 1 British Champions Stakes. Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) threw everything he had at the best horse in the world but could get no closer than a length and a half to Frankel at the wire. Nathaniel (IRE) finished third to round out the trifecta.

Significant rainfall in and around Ascot all week rendered the turf as “Soft, Heavy in places” on the round course. French raider Cirrus Des Aigles is one of the best soft ground horses in the world, winning multiple Group stakes over ground from soft to heavy including the Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp in his last start.

Frankel entered the Champions Stakes a perfect 13-for-13 in his career with wins in a record eight straight Group 1 races, the highest level of racing in Europe. The argument over Frankel’s place in the list of the all-time greats in the sport of horse racing will go on for many years but one thing is certain - Frankel is by far the best horse in the world.

Frankel is a four-year-old colt by Epsom Derby winner Galileo (IRE) out of a Danehill mare (Kind (IRE)), trained by Sir Henry Cecil and owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah.