Sir Henry Cecil's Frankel achieved a provisional figure of 142, just 1 lb below his master rating which came in the QEII last year, as he cruised to a five-length success over Excelebration at Newbury.

Timeform Handicapper Pat Jupp said "Frankel's Lockinge performance rating of 142 is the highest in the race since it was upgraded to Group 1 status in 1995, surpassing that of Hawk Wing who ran to 136 when scoring by eleven lengths in 2003, and is backed up by a provisional timefigure in the mid-130s at least. To dispatch two match-fit rivals in Excelebration and Dubawi Gold in this manner was clearly most impressive and it suggests there could be even more to come from Frankel in the months ahead.

“Frankel still stands 2lb below Sea Bird II, the highest-rated Flat horse in Timeform's history at 145, but he left the impression today that he has a real chance of surpassing that figure this season.”

Connections are now faced with a choice at Royal Ascot of either keeping Frankel to a mile in the Queen Anne Stakes or stepping him up to a mile and a quarter for the first time in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, where he may cross swords with 133-rated Cirrus des Aigles.

Timeform's all-time highest-rated horses

145 Sea Bird II

144 Brigadier Gerard, Tudor Minstrel

143 Frankel

142 Abernant, Ribot, Windy City

141 Mill Reef

140 Dancing Brave, Dubai Millennium, Sea The Stars, Shergar, Vaguely Noble