ASCOT, England, June 19 (UPI) -- Frankel lived up to his billing as the world's top-rated thoroughbred Tuesday, opening Royal Ascot with an 11-lengths win.
After letting stablemate Bullet Train set the early pace in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, jockey Tom Queally set Frankel to his task with 3 furlongs left in the 1-mile race and he quickly distanced the field. His old foe, Excelebration, finished second -- the fifth time he has been beaten by Frankel. Side Glance finished third.
The performance left even jaded racegoers in awe and cemented Frankel's place as one of the sport's all-time greats, with more apparently to come.
The 4-year-old Galileo colt, owned by Khalid Abdulla, now has won all 11 of his starts. Trainer Henry Cecil said it appears Frankel is still improving and now will be considered for races beyond his previous 1-mile limit.
"It looks like he'll stay a mile and a quarter," Sir Henry said. "He's (entered) in the Eclipse, Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte. We'll feel our way and he'll tell me what to do."
The Queen Anne kicked off five of the most anticipated days in racing with Queen Elizabeth II expected to attend each day's festivities.
