Frankel's younger brother Noble Mission and the admirable mare Chachamaidee combined to give Henry Cecil a Group-race double on the opening afternoon of Glorious Goodwood.
All that was missing was the master trainer himself, who has been susceptible to other illnesses due to his ongoing treatment for cancer, but the Warren Place runners had been perfectly primed to cover themselves in glory.
Noble Mission continues to establish himself as a useful performer in his own right with a courageous victory over Encke in the bet365 Gordon Stakes.
He will forever be overshadowed by his exceptional sibling, who lines up in Wednesday's Qipco Sussex Stakes, but an opportunity of a Classic challenge in the Ladbrokes St Leger remains in the pipeline.
Noble Mission may have to re-enact his compelling battle with Encke in the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes on 22 August before being allowed a shot at Camelot at Doncaster, and the Godolphin runner emerged with great credit himself as he was only beaten by a nose.
The hooded Noble Mission (11-4) needed to be stoked up by jockey Tom Queally before he took aim at Encke but they were alongside each other for almost two furlongs and scarcely separated at the post.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said: "I think Henry would want to take him to the Great Voltigeur at York just to test those (Leger) credentials but in principle I think that (the Leger) would be the idea, yes.
"I think he looked more the finished article today, and he's certainly matured - not only mentally but physically as well."
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "We're delighted with that and we'll look towards the Great Voltigeur as he needs a bit more experience."
Jockey Mickael Barzalona was banned for four days for using his whip above the permitted level.
John Gosden's 6-4 favourite Michelangelo was third and the trainer said: "He got lost on the contours but will still go to the Leger."
Chachamaidee had 'previous' with the meeting after winning a Group Three fillies' race last year and confirmed her liking for the Sussex Downs against her male counterparts in the bet365 Lennox Stakes.
Penalised for a slow start when denied by Joviality in the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot, the 5-4 favourite walked out of the stalls again but was able to use her sparkling turn of foot register a length and a half defeat of Libranno.
"It's nice to finally hit the bullseye with her," said Queally. "They went a lovely gallop and it suited me from where I was.
"Fillies have a bad enough record in this race so it's great."
Owner Tony Evans said: "Henry has done us proud with this horse. She's just fantastic and we've also got an unraced two-year-old with him.
"She won here last year and she's now won a Group Three and a Group Two, so we'd like to win a Group One. I don't know where though."
Cecil's wife Jane provided an update on the ever-popular trainer and said: "Because of the treatment, his immunity is not as robust, so he's just being sensible and staying at home. Hopefully he'll build his resistance back up."
The bet365 Molecomb Stakes was another to go right down to the wire, with two-year-old bullet Bungle Inthejungle (14-1) stifling the 2-1 favourite Morawij.
Winning trainer Mick Channon said: "He's got so much speed but I'm relying on the jockey to control him and Martin Harley played a blinder.
"I'd imagine he'll go down the Flying Childers route, but this was the plan."
Morawij's trainer Roger Varian had no excuses and may look at the Gimcrack Stakes.
Mark Johnston notched his 51st Glorious Goodwood winner in the opening bet365.com Stakes, when Landaman (12-1) overcame a stumble exiting the gates to forge home clear under Darren Egan.
Johnston said: "It's a relief to get off the mark at Goodwood and he could run again later in the week."
The Gosden and William Buick bandwagon rolled on with Blessington (15-2) in the Casino At bet365.com EBF Maiden Stakes.
"He got wiped out first time at Windsor but I like him a lot and put him in the Mill Reef and Middle Park Stakes this morning, so it wasn't a fluke," Gosden said.
Morawij's rider Neil Callan had better fortune when the Stuart Kittow-trained Uppercut landed a 16-1 blow in the Poker At bet365 Stakes.
The concluding Mobile At bet365 Stakes went to the Raul da Silva-ridden, Tony Carroll-trained Time Medicean (22-1), with the bottom-weight accounting for Le Toreador by a short head.
