Son Of Rest and Baron Bolt dead-heated in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday following a dramatic photo finish to Europe’s richest sprint handicap.
The former was sent off 5/1 favourite following his second-place finish in a Group One in Ireland last weekend and he looked to have come with a winning run up the stands’ rail inside the final furlong.
However, 28/1 chance Baron Bolt emerged from the chasing pack to mount a serious challenge and the pair were inseparable at the line.
Baron Bolt was actually 2lb wrong at the weights after picking up a 5lb penalty for a win at Goodwood on August 24, form that was franked earlier in the day by the wins of both Boy In The Bar and Snazzy Jazzy.
Cameron Noble’s 5lb claim helped in that regard, though, ensuring it was Paul Cole as well as Fozzy Stack that were declared the winning trainers.
Flying Pursuit was back in third with Get Knotted fourth. Sky Bet paid out on the first seven home for each-way bets and Tanasoq was fifth, Perfect Pasture was sixth and Kimberella was seventh.
Cole said from his Whatcombe base: "It was a thrilling finish, they are two good horses, but I think it's a great result for the race, a dead-heat - we'd have settled for that before.
"He was a little bit unlucky, but he's a very nice horse and I think he deserves what he got there.
"I've been watching the racing there and while they are saying it's heavy, they have been finishing well and there'd been no rain of note for 24 hours.
"It (ground) was a bit of a worry, but he finished his race off well. I think he goes on anything bar really bottomless ground.
"He'd run over seven furlongs early in his career, but I think that was just me running him over the wrong trip. He's definitely a six-furlong horse and he's definitely getting better."
He added: "I haven't thought about anything after this, but it's fantastic to win it, as it's been a quiet season, so it's good for the yard.
"As we picked up a penalty for his last win, we were looking for a good claimer to take 5lb off and Cameron was recommended to us."
Noble admitted: "I'd rather share it than get second. I'm delighted, it's my first ride for Mr Cole and I can't thank him enough. I'm based with Mr (Michael) Bell in Newmarket and things are going great for me at the moment."
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