With Frankel winning his 14th consecutive victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot yesterday, we look at five of the best-ever runners...
Secretariat Although he did not finish his career unbeaten, the American Triple Crown winner surely remains the greatest racehorse of all time. His runs in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1973 were all in record time and all three still stand today. Tough, brilliant and his 31-length victory in the Belmont needs to be seen to be believed.
Brigadier Gerard The British horse won 17 of his 18 starts, and unlike Frankel was fully proved over a variety of distances. He won the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs and had the required blend of stamina to win the 1972 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot over six furlongs farther.
Dancing Brave Greatness comes in many forms, but for the singularly most impressive performance on turf it is difficult to eclipse Prince Khalid Abdullah's former standard-bearer. The 1986 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was perhaps the highest-quality race of all time and yet the image of him scything down runners from the rear of the pack is one of the most enduring in the sport.
Dubai Millennium His brilliance stems from the fact he was versatile on two surfaces. Godolphin's flag-bearer put up an outrageous performance when wining the Dubai World Cup by six lengths in 2000. From the dirt of Dubai to the turf of Ascot, he won the Prince Of Wales's Stakes by eight lengths. Frankie Dettori maintains he is the best horse he has ever ridden.
Black Caviar Not enough credit is afforded the Australian sprinter. Unbeaten in 22 starts, she has beaten Group 1 winners for fun in her native country, which produces some of the best speedsters. Proved she was the real deal in England despite scraping home the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
