Frankel made a breathtaking start to his four-year-old career by pulverising the opposition in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Ridden by Tom Queally, the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt sat in second behind his pacemaker Bullet Train for much of the way before scorching clear in the one-mile feature to extend his unbeaten winning spree to 10 races.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned superstar was sent off the 2-7 favourite and his supporters never had an anxious moment as he swept to an effortless victory by five lengths. His old adversaries, Excelebration and Dubawi Gold, were second and third respectively.

Queally said: "It's a great relief he's come back. He's grown up from last year, he's thicker set. 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."

Cecil added: "He always takes a little bit of a hold, but he quickened up so well. The first race is never his best, but he's done everything right considering he was sidelined. I'm delighted for the Prince (Khalid Abdullah) and the staff. Every sport, they need a champion. It gets everyone involved and it's good for racing."

The remarkable son of Galileo, who had a scare last month but recovered from the setback, is now in line to run at Royal Ascot next month, where he will take up an engagement in either the one-mile Queen Anne Stakes of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs.

Cecil went on: "He's in the two at Ascot and we'll take it step by step. He has definitely got stronger this year and you have to be thrilled with him as when you have a hiccup in the lead-up to the race then it is not very funny, and it has not been straightforward.

"He has had a good blow afterwards and, looking at his career so far, he has always improved from his first race. You would expect him to do the same. I am very lucky to have the horse. It is lovely for racing and thank goodness he came through the setback."

Excelebration's trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "Frankel is a great horse, isn't he? It's great for everyone, but I'm delighted for Henry, for Tom, the Prince and everybody involved with him.

"Marco Botti did a great job with Excelebration last year and we didn't come here under any illusions. He had a nice run at the Curragh last time and we looked forward to coming here. A mile has been his trip so far, but I don't know where we'll go next."