Bow Echo came with a scintillating late run to get the better of regular rival Gstaad and maintain his unbeaten record in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes.
Trained by George Boughey and ridden by Billy Loughnane, the popular Bow Echo was well supported as he looked to follow up his wins in the Betfred 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, ultimately going off the 10/11 favourite on his first race against the older horses on the Downs.
It was one of the older brigade who made the first move in the prestigious mile Group 1, Opera Ballo (9/2) racing very keenly under William Buick behind early leaders Dorset and Qirat, and allowed to kick for home on the inside rail a furlong and a half from the finish.
Gstaad (4/1), who was a two and three-quarter-length second to Bow Echo in the Guineas and gave him a real fright when getting within a short-head at Royal Ascot last month, came with a fine-looking bid to pick up the running under Ryan Moore, but Loughnane had tracked him on the outside of the field and well into the final furlong it was Bow Echo who flew past to score by half a length from Aidan O'Brien's runner-up, with a length and three-quarters back to the Charlie Appleby-trained Opera Ballo in third.
Night Of Thunder colt Bow Echo was winning his sixth race and maintaining an unblemished record having made his racecourse debut at Newbury last August. He also becomes the first winner of the Guineas, St James's Palace and Sussex Stakes since the great Frankel.
Sky Bet and Paddy Power reacted by making the winner 5/2 (from 5/1) for the Breeders' Cup Mile, having claimed the Goodwood feature which is a Challenge Series 'win and you're in' race for the Keeneland contest.
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Winning reaction
George Boughey said on Racing TV: "It's a feeling I've probably never had before, he's an extraordinarily talented horse and I've known that for a long way.
"He's been in a couple of scraps recently and he really had to show his fight today, and had to show his turn of foot.
"I think it was a career best, a lot went wrong again and he was still able to win - and win well.
"It was a pretty rough race early doors, it looked messy. There was a lot of pace on and our plan was to try and follow Gstaad where possible. But the one thing I did think was that Gstaad would have to get going probably earlier than thought, and Ryan was under the pump from a fair way out. He is obviously a very strong stayer that horse (Gstaad).
"He did find a pocket with a few furlongs to go, but Billy held his nerve and it's basically how we want it to go, apart from a few scrimmages through the race. He challenged on the part of the track we wanted to be and it was a super effort."
On Loughnane, Boughey added: “I have got the right man riding him. He is a real show-boy, is he not? He loves it. He is an outstanding rider. I was pretty nervous today going into the paddock, and he was just chilled out. He has got an amazing head on young shoulders. He is 20 years old and half a generation younger than me, and I am considered very young in this game. He has got every attribute and is the consummate professional. He has been managing his weight beautifully for someone who is the same height as me, and he is a very, very good rider at the end of the day.”
Loughnane said: “Hopefully that can silence the doubters. What a superstar of a horse. I say it every time. I know how lucky I am to have a horse like this at this age, I just feel so privileged.
“Bow Echo and I both had to grow up fast [at Ascot], and we really have. We have watched millions of these races back, and we always felt that the closer would almost certainly get up. We knew there would be plenty of pace. Once I found Ryan [Moore]'s tail, I was happy enough, but then Christophe [Soumillon] appeared on my outside, so I knew I was going to have a bit of a challenge getting him out. Once he did, he really motored home.
"I knew I was going to have to play him late, so that was always going to be the plan. I was always going to take my time, get him to relax and find that rhythm he has got. I just had to wait to get out, but I was not worried. I still had a furlong and a half from there to the line, and from the furlong pole onwards I always felt I was going to run them down.
"Hopefully that can squash all the queries everyone has got about this horse now. He is a real superstar and has done it every way. Today was a tough race for him. There were plenty of runners and we ended up a long way back, but he has got a proper engine. He is probably one of the best horses I will ever partner, and to have him at 20 years old is a dream come true.
“The reception from the crowd means everything, when we got back in was magical and it proves what a following this horse has got. I know how lucky I am to have a horse like him."
Buick said of Opera Ballo: “Before the race, I was very conscious of what was going to happen on my outside, pace-wise. That happened, and we were very happy to take a lead. We were going good, strong fractions, and I thought we had a nice lead into the race where we were. He has run his heart out.
"He was giving 8lb to two top-notch three-year-olds; obviously, Bow Echo is an exceptional horse. He is unbeaten, and I tip my cap to the horse, George, Billy and the whole team. It takes some doing to stay unbeaten this far down the line. I did [think I might win] two out, when we were getting rolling and he picked up, but the three-year-olds just came late.
"He is still a very good horse, held in the highest regard, and he has still got a bright future ahead of him."
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