Nathaniel looks set to take on Frankel in a mouth-watering renewal of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York next month.
Nathaniel was denied by the narrowest of margins when he was defeated by Arc heroine Danedream in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday, but he still ran with great credit and connections will be looking for more Group One glory.
John Gosden’s four-year-old won the Coral-Eclipse two weeks earlier and the Pric de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp looks to be the long term aim. However, he could also be in line to tackle the world's highest-rated thoroughbred beforehand, in what should be an unbelievable clash over 1m2f.
"He ate up well and is fine," said Gosden.
"The great thing is that he doesn't know he got beat. He thinks it was a dead-heat!
"The races we are looking at for him are the Juddmonte International, the Arc, and the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and Newmarket.
"He will probably run in two of those."
Meanwhile, Frankel remains on course for the 2012 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next week, and Prince Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe explained: "All's well with Frankel. He's heading for the Sussex."