The final Champions' Day at Newmarket became an afternoon dedicated to the achievements of Henry Cecil when 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 Dewhurst Stakes.Just over half an hour later Twice Over captured a second consecutive Champion Stakes.The two are owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Cecil's long-standing patron to whom he fe

The final Champions' Day at Newmarket became an afternoon dedicated to the achievements of Henry Cecil when 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 Dewhurst Stakes.

Just over half an hour later Twice Over captured a second consecutive Champion Stakes.

The two are 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 2-1/4 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.

"He got a bump coming out of the stalls and that set him alight, and they weren't going quickly enough for him," Cecil said.

"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 said.

"The last I can remember seeing was (French superstar) Arazi, and they're similar in some ways.

"If he was a Formula One Car he'd win everything, so long as I didn't drive him!"

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 (200m) 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."