Unbeaten Frankel capped a brilliant career as he overcame testing conditions to claim his 14th consecutive victory in the Champion Stakes. The world's top-rated racehorse, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, beat Cirrus Des Aigles by a length-and-three-quarters in his final race before being retired to stud. The four-year-old colt lost ground at the start and was slowly out of the stalls under Tom Queally. In the softest ground he has encountered, the 2-11 favourite - considered one of the all-time grea

Unbeaten Frankel capped a brilliant career as he overcame testing conditions to claim his 14th consecutive victory in the Champion Stakes. The world's top-rated racehorse, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, beat Cirrus Des Aigles by a length-and-three-quarters in his final race before being retired to stud.

The four-year-old colt lost ground at the start and was slowly out of the stalls under Tom Queally. In the softest ground he has encountered, the 2-11 favourite - considered one of the all-time greats - recovered and had enough to see off last year's winner (9-2).

He was cheered continuously from three furlongs out by the sell-out 32,000 crowd. Victory for Frankel took his career prize money to nearly ú3m and his aggregate winning distance to more than 76 lengths.

Owner Prince Khalid Abdullah confirmed in the winners' enclosure after the race that Frankel will be retired. He is set to command a fee of ú100,000 a time at stud, leading to a ú100m valuation.

"He's the best I've ever had, the best I've ever seen," said Cecil, who is battling stomach cancer. "I'd be very surprised if there's ever been anything better."

Frankel's participation in the mile-and-a-quarter race had been placed in some doubt overnight after prolonged rain turned the going to soft, heavy in places.

But he delighted his followers by showing he could perform in all conditions to take the ú1.3m highlight of British Champions Day, the country's richest racing day.

Queally said: "No doubt he is better on better ground but his class showed today. I walked the track and was worried about conditions, but after walking the home straight I knew it was not too heavy for him to quicken up and go about his business and win.

"You never see an F1 car win on anything but tarmac but for him to win on ground like that shows how special he is." (BBC)