Dream Of Dreams ran out a spectacular and poignant winner of the Unibet Hungerford Stakes under Oisin Murphy.
The 13/8 favourite was winning a Group race for the first time despite a string of fine efforts in elite company and was cantering throughout under the champion jockey.
He tracked eventual runner-up Breathtaking Look in a group of two down the far side and bounded clear of her - and the rest - to win by seven lengths.
All thoughts afterwards were with trainer Sir Michael Stoute who lost his partner Coral Pritchard-Gordon earlier in the week after a long illness.
"It means the world. Not only for Sir Michael but everyone connected to his yards in Newmarket. It's been a tough week and I want to pass on my condolences to him and his family."
Of the winner Murphy added: "He felt very good and completely outclassed them. He gave me a dream ride and a brilliant feel."
Stoute’s assistant James Horton said: “He travelled very well through that and picked up nicely. He always threatened to win a big one and I’m delighted for everyone at home that has done a great job with him.
“He has been knocking on the door, this lad. He has been second in two Diamond Jubilees and has been very unlucky not to win either. It’s great for Saeed to have another big winner with a proper horse, and it’s great for the boss.”
“I think he is very versatile and can go six or seven. He just needs a nice pace and something to aim at. We will have to see how he is. We think he runs best fresh so we will get him home, freshen him up and see where we go from here.
“We have to run him when he is bouncing and if he isn’t, it is not right. Before Ascot and today we have been very pleased with him, so we know the timing is right. We will talk to Saeed, Bruce Raymond and the boss. No plans are imminent anyway.”
The victory was a poignant one in a week that Stoute has had to come to terms with the loss of his long-term partner Coral Pritchard-Gordon, following a long battle with illness.
Horton said: “It will mean a lot to everyone. It is a very sad time at Freemason Lodge at the moment. Coral was a rock for everyone in the yard, the boss more than anyone. She looked after everyone. She was always the first person to come out and make sure everyone was OK.
“If anyone had any issues or problems she was always the person to go to. It has been a tough week. This is a very poignant winner for the boss and everyone at home.”
It was a second Pattern-race success inside of a week for Stoute, who claimed a Group Three triumph with Regal Reality at Salisbury on Sunday, and Horton hopes it is a sign of things to come for the rest of the season.
He added: “We started well, then we just hit a bit of a flat spot, but the horses seem very well at the moment. They all seem to be running well and long may it continue.”
