IT’s a tale that could rival even to any Chariots of Fire-like movie. Send in a script that began with two young lads on their first day at school, and taking each other in a competition.

Later, as their careers progressed, they go on to become stars of their sport, though that first winner was always just that much better.

Then, a generation later, the vanquished one produced an offspring, a daughter to reach the heights and be hailed as the greatest star.

But there was another twist, just after her hour of glory, the champion produced the goods again, and his son came back to challenge for the top prize. Cue music.

Nathaniel yielded to Frankel but gave us the outstanding Enable. He’d trumped his old rival. Then Frankel countered with Cracksman.

Heading into 2018, the scene is set for showdown between two stars that should enthral racing fans. It’s better than War Admiral v Sea Biscuit, Affirmed v Alydar. Not many film producers could have dreamed it up.

The odds would have been long on Frankel and Nathaniel, five years after they met in their first maiden, producing two dominant horses with their first crops, the like of Enable and Cracksman.

Stranger still that they should be with the same trainer.

James Willoughby described it “absolutely unprecedented how well Frankel has done” after Cracksman has fulfilled all the lofty aspirations in the Champions Stakes.

In the beginning, Frankel’s offspring were described as being “all shapes and sizes” but even allowing for the calibre of mares he received, it’s an excellent start to his stud career. Cracksman and Eminent are the European stars, with Soul Stirring and Rubilinda, a classic winner and stakes winner in Japan and the US respectively.

Though he is from the family of 1000 Guineas winner On The House, Cracksman is by no means the best bred of Frankel’s three-year-old crop. He has got classic horses as well as fast horses like Queen Kindly and had a St Leger runner in Count Octave. Monarchs Glen looks a talented horse, though now gelded.

Given that Frankel, was still a work in progress for his three-year-old season, and both Cracksman and Eminent improved through the year, there is every expectation that they could be even better next year. Herculean, Nelson, Elarqam and Contingent are two-year-olds to have caught the eye.

The last outstanding horse to go to stud, Sea The Stars, got Taghrooda and Sea The Moon from his first crop. Frankel’s offspring are from the finest of mares and most are with the best of trainers so he had huge advantages from the beginning.

It’s only one classic season complete, but he’s showing every promise of living up to his illustrious line of Sadler’s Wells and Galileo.