Frankel could detour to Paris before retiring at the end of the year according to Juddmonte Farm’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe.

The superstar’s connections are considering a start in the G1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on September 16.  The 1600m feature would fit nicely into his autumn programme between the Juddmonte International at York on August 22 and the English Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20.

The surprise announcement came just hours after Frankel franked his rating as the world’s best racehorse with another outstanding victory in the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.

Frankel was sent off a prohibitive $1.05 favourite to defend his Sussex crown and he delivered the double with ease winning by six lengths from Darley galloper Farhh.

The victory improved his record to 12 wins from 12 starts for trainer Sir Henry Cecil and owner Khalid Abdullah.  He had defeated Canford Cliffs by five lengths in the 2011 edition of the Sussex Stakes.

“He’s amazing and had the other horses cooked a little after half-way,” jockey Tom Queally said.  “He’s a class apart from any other horse around at the moment and I’ve a very easy job – all I do is steer.  They’re magic moments – it’s great to be a part of it.”

Frankel (Galileo) was coming off an 11 length romp in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot that earned him a provisional Timeform rating of 147.  It’s most unlikely that figure would be raised after the Sussex.

Frankel’s Queen Anne performance saw him ranked the greatest racehorse of the modern era.  Sea Bird had been Timeform’s highest-ever performer with a 145 rating ahead of Brigadier Gerard and Tudor Minstrel on 144.