STILL KING: Cecil’s colt retains its unbeaten record at Royal Ascot

In winning the St James’s Palace Stakes, Frankel extended his winning sequence to seven races – but he had less than a length in hand on the fast finishing Zoffany.

The illustrious trainer, celebrating his first victory since being knighted in the Queen’s birthday honours, had a worried frown as the chasing pack hunted down the odds-on favourite.

However, Cecil blamed laziness on the part of the highly-strung horse, rather than tiredness, for the smallest winning margin in Frankel’s illustrious seven-race career to date.

Though the result vindicated his decision to bypass the Epsom Derby, Cecil is undecided whether Frankel will have sufficient stamina for the mile-and-a-quarter Juddmonte International on August 17, the richest race in York’s calendar and the day-one highlight of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

An alternative could be the one- mile Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood where the contenders could include Canford Cliffs and the brilliant French mare Goldikova, the first two home in a compelling Queen Anne Stakes.

“He wasn’t at all tired, he just thought he’d done enough. That’s good really, it means we can settle him in behind now,” said relieved Cecil.

“I think it’s inevitable we’ll meet Canford Cliffs and Goldikova somewhere, unless this horse goes over a mile-and-a-quarter which would be the Juddmonte International. Maybe the Sussex or the Juddmonte, we’ll see.”

It would be particularly apt if Frankel lined up at York – the horse is owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, the Saudi prince who owns the Juddmonte Farms breeding operation that is the International’s long-time sponsor.

“We would be absolutely thrilled and honoured if a horse of the calibre of Frankel was to come to the Knavesmire,” said York chief executive William Derby.

“It is worth £700,000 and is sponsored by Prince Khalid Abdullah who owns Juddmonte Farms. He has never won the race in the 22 years that he has supported York, and I know he would love to win his race.

“If Frankel came to York, there would be parallels with Sea The Stars winning the Juddmonte two years ago but it would not be a one-horse race – there will be plenty of amazing racehorses who will want to take on Sir Henry’s horse.”