Cracksman bounced back to his brilliant, dominating, best with a ruthless victory in a one-sided QIPCO British Champion Stakes at Ascot.
The son of Frankel blotted his copybook in the summer with an unconvincing success in the Coronation Cup at Epsom before a defeat to Poet's Word at Royal Ascot in June, the last time he was sighted on a racetrack.
Aborted missions to York and Paris added to the frustration of his 2018 campaign, but he ended his career in fine style with a relentless performance to win his second Champion Stakes and third Group one of the year.
Wearing blinkers for the first time, Frankie Dettori got him settled in behind the pace before unleashing him in the home straight, where his opposition didn't see which way he went as he powered clear for a six-length success.
It would've been more were it not for Dettori's prolonged celebration, Crystal Ocean coming in a remote second with 66/1 outsider Subway Dancer staying on past beaten horses for third.
Gosden said: "It is super to have him back. Obviously he liked to get his toe in. He is by Frankel out of a Pivotal mare. Frankel won on any ground, but a Pivotal mare is a bit of a clue.
"Obviously he got very distracted at Royal Ascot by the girls (fillies) coming back in from the Duke of Cambridge.
"We waited for the King George and the ground was too firm, we looked at the Juddmonte International, we freshened him up didn't go to Longchamp (for the Arc) and came here, where he was back to his best.
"I'm a great believer in putting a semi-blinker on as I've had a lot of luck with it down the years and it's a little trick I learned in America.
"He is a hugely talented horse and he showed it again today and I'm sure he will be off to stud now.
"When he's in the zone, he's a very good horse. I would think it quite likely he'll go to stud.
"He's a four-year-old, turning five. He's Frankel's best son and it's good to see him back to his best."
Dettori said: "All the lights were on and when I kicked he went 'whoosh'. It was brilliant. He did it all on his own.
"The blinkers worked and he was concentrating. I kept him away from Rhododendron and in the first bit of the race I knew he was good. He came good for me at the three and I knew we were in business then.
"You know when you are going twice as fast as the others, and I could celebrate."
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