"Perfect racehorse" Baaeed emulated the great Frankel with a mighty win in the Juddmonte International.
Jim Crowley oozed confidence on the 2-5 favourite, as they went for ten straight victories together. Last year's winner Mishriff got first run on his big rival, but Crowley had the move covered.
Asked to quicken, the market leader showed a potent turn of foot to go clear of the runner-up by six-and-a-half lengths.
"He’s got everything, he’s the perfect racehorse," said Crowley.
"I’m not joking here – he’d win a July Cup all the way up to a mile and a half, he has everything. He's as good as the greats."
Frankel took the feature race on day one of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival by seven lengths in 2012. His overall record stands at 14 wins, while Baaeed moved onto ten with his impressive display.
Connections of the world's highest-rated horse had a slight scare before the Group 1, when Baaeed was found to have a rash on his neck that had not been given veterinary clearance.
“He will go for the Champion Stakes at Ascot," said trainer William Haggas.
"He can’t do both (the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Champion Stakes), and we wanted our finale in the Champion Strakes and that has always been the plan.
“It was a spectacular performance and I’m glad now that everyone will believe me. We think he is fantastic and have felt so for some time."
Baaeed is just 2-5 with William Hill to retain his unbeaten record in the Champion Stakes at Ascot's end of season finale in October.
Full results from day one of York's Sky Bet Ebor Festival
1.50
1 Bergerac 22-1
2 King Of Stars 33-1
3 Atalis Bay 10-1
4 Nomadic Empire 25-1
2.25
1 Chaldean 7-2
2 Indestructible 8-1
3 Oviedo 7-1
3.00
1 Deauville Legend 5-2f
2 Secret State 3-1
3.35
1 Baaeed 2-5f
2 Mishriff 4-1
4.10
1 Alfred Boucher 5-1
2 Frankenstella 15-2
3 Zoffee 11-2
4.45
1 Designer 14-1
2 Pink Crystal 9-2f
3 Sandbeck 9-1
4 Cuban Breeze 11-2
5.20
1 Streets Of Gold 7-2f
2 Misty Blues 50-1
3 Lost Angel 40-1
4 Silencer 11-1
