Horse Racing: Cecil revels in Group 1 glory

Ascot may well attract double the crowd for the all-new Champions' Day next year - but it must be doubtful if the raw emotion shown by the Newmarket faithful on Saturday will ever be matched.

The afternoon will always be remembered for the achievements of Henry Cecil, as perhaps the town's most popular figure claimed both Group 1 races.

First Frankel (4-6) made 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 (7-2) 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 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, finishing two-and-a-quarter lengths clear. Frankel 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. 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 1 car he'd win everything, so long as I didn't drive him."

The Champion Stakes will move to Ascot next year and Twice Over became the last of an esteemed list including Triptych and Brigadier Gerard, each dual winners last century. It never looked in doubt as the joint- favourite was swinging along on the bit until Queally asked him to advance on the leader Debussy a furlong from home.

"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 be aimed for another crack at the Dubai World Cup in March.

On a stellar card, Brian Meehan's Aaim To Prosper landed the totesport.com Cesarewitch under 19-year-old Barbados-born jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin.