Frankel's demolition job in the Queen Anne Stakes was not enough to earn the title of best racehorse ever, according to the handicappers at the British Horseracing Authority.

Sir Henry Cecil's wonder horse carried an official rating of 138 into the Group One contest and produced an 11-length win that had seasoned observers looking on in disbelief.

However, the BHA's handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill explained that the proximity of some of the beaten horses holds the form down slightly. Dancing Brave, like Frankel owned by Khalid Abdullah, was awarded the highest ever official mark of 141 after his victory in the 1986 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Gardiner-Hill told BHAXtra: "He he went into the race on 138. I think he's run to at least that in winning the race. If we put him up, he'll go up a maximum of a couple of pounds to a mark of 140. As was highlighted after the Lockinge, in the modern-day era Dancing Brave is the highest-rated horse we've had on 141 and at this stage I wouldn't want to put him up above Dancing Brave on what he achieved (on Tuesday).

"There are doubts. Side Glance went into the race on 113, the German horse (Indomito) on 108, although having reviewed his rating this morning we may have underestimated his last run. And obviously Windsor Palace (fifth) is a 104-106 horse. I don't think it would be right to put Frankel above Dancing Brave, beating those horses, which really are no more than Group Two horses.

"He beat them a long way but when you look at the quality of the Arc that Dancing Brave won back in 1986, which was chock-full of Group One winners, I think it would be wrong at this stage to say that Frankel is a better horse than Dancing Brave, so if he goes up it will be a maximum of a couple of pounds to 140."

Cecil said: "He lost a front shoe (in the race). I don't know where it happened but it got loose in the last furlong and came off. It's been poulticed, but he's fine and lives to fight another day. The idea was to go to Goodwood (Sussex Stakes) and York (Juddmonte International), but everything is open and we'll see."

Abdullah's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, reported the colt is in good shape after his memorable performance.

He told the BBC: "He's come back well, eaten up and seems very happy. No problems. It was a breathtaking performance by any standard. I usually just sit and yell from the stands, but actually I just watched open-mouthed.

"It was such a wonderful job done by Henry and Tom (Queally) and everyone back home at Warren Place has been fantastic. He is something else isn't he? People come into racing for these very, very special horses. The amount of people that have come up to me since and said their son or daughter wasn't really keen on racing but they saw Frankel and they're just absolutely mad for it now. It is hugely important for the whole game. It's fantastic."