A British racehorse yesterday became the first nag in history to be valued at a staggering £100million.
Frankel, a three year old bay colt, has won all eight of his flat races and is the hot favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot next weekend.
But his incredible valuation - which is said to be 'conservative' - is only partly down to his success on the track.
It also reflects the £100,000 'covering' - the price charged for him to mate with a mare - will be an astonishing £100,000-a-time he will command when he is put out to stud.
Currently the most expensive stud fee is between £70,000 - £80,000, charged by the owners of racing legend See The Stars.
Frankel, who can gallop at a mind boggling 40mph at full throttle, has been dubbed the 'Usain Bolt' of the horse racing world.
Owned by Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah, security around him is so tight his trainer - the highly respected Sir Henry Cecil - sleeps next to a video screen which streams live footage of Frankel in his box.
The incredible figure was calculated by McKeever Bloodstock, one of Britain's biggest bloodstock agencies, who value horses for sale and stud purposes.
Boss Johnny McKeever said: ''Given the value of stallions now it is not at all unreasonable to put this kind of price - or even a higher one - on Frankel.''
And Nick Attenborough, a spokesperson for horseracing industry body Racing For Change, agreed the estimate could be slightly on the shy side.
He added: ''At £100k a time and with him able to cover up to 120 mares in one breeding season it would only take him eight years to earn his owner £100m, provided his offspring prove as good as he is.
''Frankel is the perfect racehorse, he is very big and extremely powerful.
''When he gallops very few horses can keep up with him and he has incredible stamina.
''He has such a huge stride that he often makes other very capable horses look slow.
''Frankel used to be very headstrong when he was young but he has calmed down and is maturing into a phenomenal horse.
''If anyone wanted to buy him today I expect they would have to find in excess of #75m to prise him out of the Prince's hands, but to be honest he doesn't need the money.''
Frankel was born in 2008 and is owned by Khalid Abdullah, a reclusive Saudi Arabian prince and multi-billionaire businessman.
The sheik has a history of breeding top quality horses and has also owned Known Fact, Zafonic, Rainbow Quest, Danehill, Dancing Brave and last year's Derby winner, Workforce.
Frankel, who has pocketed his owners #805,000 in prize money so far and will bank close to another £1million if he triumphs at the Queen Elizabeth II stakes at Ascot next Saturday (15th Oct).
His biggest achievement was strolling to victory by an incredible 6 lengths in the eight furlong 2000 Guineas, one of Europe's most prestigious Classic races, at Newmarket in April.
Frankel was quickly out in front in a usually highly competitive contest and finished unchallenged and impressively, ahead of second placed Dubai Gold.
Frankel resides at Warren Place stables in Newmarket, Cambs.
His astronomical value is equal to the price of:
* 577 Ferrari 458s
* 110,011 return flights from London to Sydney
* 115,207 season tickets to watch Chelsea play
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