Unbeaten Frankel thrills Ascot at end

ASCOT, England - Frankel finished his dazzling career unbeaten by winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday for a 14th straight victory, enhancing his status as one of the greatest racehorses ever.

Setting off as a 2-11 favorite in front of Queen Elizabeth II and 32,000 spectators, the world's top-ranked horse coped well with the soft going to come home with a length and three-quarters to spare ahead of 2011 winner Cirrus Des Aigles.

The 4-year-old colt was slow out of the starting blocks but quickly recovered under jockey Tom Queally before showing his trademark turn of speed to overtake Nathaniel first and then Cirrus Des Aigles in the final two furlongs.

"We lost a length at the start, but a length is nothing to him," Queally told the Guardian. "It's fair to say that he is better on better ground, but the [four-wheel drive] kicked in, and he is everything you could imagine in a horse."

Frankel's trainer, Henry Cecil, who has been fighting cancer for six years and struggled to speak as the result of chemotherapy, called the horse the highlight of his 43-year career. "He's the best I've ever had, he's the best I've ever seen. I'd be surprised if there's ever been any better."

The winning check of $1.19 million takes Frankel's earnings to $4.85 million, and he'll head to a life of luxury as a stallion. Some analysts are predicting he could earn owner Prince Khalid bin Abdullah more than $160 million at stud.