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The world's highest rated racehorse Frankel confirmed that he is among the all-time greats of UK racing with his dynamic seasonal return at Newbury on Saturday.
The unbeaten son of Galileo topped Timeform and handicapper's world rankings in 2011 and is set to go even higher in the ratings after he showed no ill-effects from a slight setback with a brilliant win in the G1 Lockinge Stakes over a mile.
Timeform awarded a provisional Lockinge figure of 142, just 1lb below his master rating, as he cruised to a five-length success over Excelebration.
Timeform handicapper Pat Jupp said: "Frankel's Lockinge performance rating of 142 is the highest in the race since it was upgraded to Group 1 status in 1995, surpassing that of Hawk Wing who ran to 136 when scoring by 11 lengths in 2003, and is backed up by a provisional time figure in the mid-130s at least.
"To dispatch two match-fit rivals in Excelebration and Dubawi Gold in this manner was clearly most impressive and it suggests there could be even more to come from Frankel in the months ahead.
"Frankel still stands 2lb below Sea Bird II, the highest-rated Flat horse in Timeform's history at 145, but he left the impression today that he has a real chance of surpassing that figure this season."
Connections are now faced with a choice at Royal Ascot of either keeping Frankel to a mile in the Queen Anne Stakes or stepping him up to a mile and a quarter for the first time in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, where he may cross swords with 133-rated Cirrus des Aigles.
Frankel's three-parts brother Bullet Train set an adequate pace for his illustrious sibling before the champion put the race to bed two furlongs out when rider Tom Queally called him.
Frankel sprinted clear to finish five lengths ahead of his old rival Excelebration, leaving trainer Sir Henry
Cecil more than satisfied with the outcome."His first race is never his best, he always improves for it," said Cecil.
"Thank goodness that he has come through the setback OK.
"He has definitely got stronger this year and you have to be thrilled with him.
"It has not been straightforward. 10 days off is not easy for a horse when you are preparing him for such a challenge."
Cecil said the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over a mile and the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot were the two races being considered for Frankel's next start.
Queally was equally impressed and relieved at the result.
"It's a great relief he's come back.
"He's grown up from last year, he's thicker set," said Queally.
"If you look at him now, he's the real deal - he's filled out since last year.
"He showed that burst of acceleration. He's not like anything I've sat on before."
Frankel is now 10 wins from 10 starts inclkuding six Group One races after he beat Excelebration into second place for the third time. Dubawi Gold was third.