Racing:Newmarket's final Champions' Day quickly became an afternoon dedicated to the achievements of Henry Cecil as perhaps the town's most popular figure claimed both Group One races.
First Frankel lived up to the near-giddy air of expectation to make short work of what was billed the two-year-old race of the century in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, and just over half an hour later Twice Over captured a second consecutive Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.
The pair were owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Cecil’s long-standing patron to whom he feels he owes everything, and each was ridden with expertise by Tom Queally.
The Dewhurst took higher billing due to the clash of three greatly regarded colts and many wanted to see Frankel fighting toe-to-toe with Dream Ahead and Saamidd.
But two of the big three failed to deliver and Frankel took full advantage, coming two and a quarter lengths clear without Queally resorting to his whip.
While the disappointing showing of his two major rivals slightly deadened the impact of Frankel’s victory, Cecil believed he could have won by further had everything been in his favour.
Barely tested on his three previous outings, he received a bump at the start and pulled so hard during the first half of the event it appeared Queally was struggling to contain him.
Roderic O’Connor led the sextet until the final furlong but the 4-6 favourite was about to reach boiling point and quickly overwhelmed his rivals.
The same could not be said for Middle Park winner Dream Ahead, who looked unbalanced despite previous experience on the Rowley Mile and beat just one home, still comfortably ahead of the eased-down Saamidd.
“He got a bump coming out of the stalls and that set him alight, and they weren’t going quickly enough for him,” said Cecil. “The ground didn’t help but he has done it well and he never had to hit him. If he hadn’t got the bump, he might have been more impressive.”
Cecil has not been restrained in his opinions about Frankel’s ability during the countdown, and he was not backtracking now. He is generally 4-5 favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas and 3-1 for Derby.
“I’m very lucky to have him, and I’ve never had a two-year-old who works like him,” Cecil continued. “The last I can remember seeing was (French superstar) Arazi, and they’re similar in some ways.
“This horse has got a lot of potential. Hopefully he has a good winter and if everything goes right, he should make a lovely three-year-old.
“If he was a Formula One Car he’d win everything, so long as I didn’t drive him!
“Hopefully he’ll be a Guineas horse and then maybe the St James’s Palace. We’ll have to see if he gets further, and discuss it with the Prince.”
Roderic O’Connor thrilled Aidan O’Brien by holding on to second while William Buick felt the ground had been too loose for Dream Ahead.
The latter’s trainer David Simcock added: “He ran like a horse who has had one race too many, he just never picked up.”
Frankie Dettori also blamed the conditions for Saamidd’s performance.
The Champion Stakes will move to Ascot next year as part of a revamped occasion and Twice Over became the last of an esteemed list including Triptych and Brigadier Gerard, each dual winners last century.
It never really looked in much doubt either, as the 7-2 joint-favourite was swinging along on the bit until Queally asked him to advance upon the leader Debussy a furlong from home.
His only danger from thereon was the 3-1 market leader Vision D’Etat, but the French raider was kept at bay by a length and three-quarters.
“It’s a lovely feeling,” said Cecil, who was on the cusp of shedding tears after a hero’s reception from the crowd.
“A few years ago on this day I was at Catterick and I will go on for as long as the Prince is with me. If it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t be here now.
“Mentally I feel very good but I just wish my health was better.
“It’s great when it all goes right — it doesn’t always fall like this.”
Also the Coral-Eclipse winner, Twice Over will continue to chase the riches in 2011.
“He’s my favourite horse,” Cecil added. “He’s got a nice head and is a lovely person. He’ll have a nice rest now and hopefully we’ll have a go at the Dubai World Cup again. It’s a race I’d like to win for the Prince and hopefully he won’t get a bad draw again.”
Queally was just one of many to join the tide of goodwill.
“It’s a day I’ll always remember, and I’m sure a lot of other people will too,” he said. “I’ll struggle to top this. My job’s easy, it’s Henry who gets them there in tip-top shape. It’s a privilege for me to ride them.”
Vision D’Etat now heads to the Far East in a bid to retain his Hong Kong Cup title, with handler Eric Libaud feeling the ground was a little “sticky” for his liking.