Tough swansong

FRANKEL will have to overcome his biggest test in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday if he is to retire unbeaten in 14 races.

The Henry Cecil- trained superstar will have just seven rivals as he tackles 2000m for only the second time in his career.

The opposition will be tougher than he faced in the Juddmonte International at York in August with France’s winner from last year Cirrus des Aigles topping the list, having returned to the track after a four-month break to win the Group 2 Prix Dollar this month by nine lengths.

‘‘Certainly, this is his tough- est test,’’ said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Prince Khalid Abdullah.

‘‘It’s building up to be a really true test for him. I think it’s exciting. I’ve always come into this with the attitude that we have to enjoy him.

‘‘The horse has done everything that we could possibly have dreamt about.’’

Also in the mix are Eclipse Stakes winner Nathaniel, who held the four-year-old to his shortest winning margin of half a length at his first start two years ago, German Derby winner Pastorius, and the Aga Khan-owned filly Ridasiyna, who won the Group 1 Prix Opera on October 7.