St Mark's Basilica edged out Tarnawa and Poetic Flare to come out on top in an enthralling Irish Champion Stakes.
Outsider Patrick Sarsfield cut out the early running but he was swamped at the two furlong pole as the three big guns loomed large to throw down their challenges.
It was hard to call who would come out on top from that point and it was only inside the final 100 yards that the 4/9 favourite held a definite advantage, ultimately winning by three-quarters-of-a-length from Tarnawa.
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It was a fifth Group One success for the Ryan Moore-ridden winner to add to his victories in the Dewhurst, French 2000 Guineas and Derby and the Coral-Eclipse.
Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "It was tactical, very tactical. They sprinted up the straight and he did well. He did well to get back here after missing York and the one thing we know he does is quicken.
"He really quickens, he always has, and he relaxes and can really turn it on. He's done that in every race. He's an exceptional horse and we're very lucky to have him.
"The two targets he had were York and here. After that we were going to see where to go. He has all the options, he could go back to a mile, stick at a mile-and-a-quarter. All the big races are there."
Ryan Moore returns in triumph on St Mark's Basilica
Moore picked up a one-day ban for careless riding.
Sky Bet cut the winner to 7/4 for the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot, Betfair and Paddy Power go 2/1.
Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet, said: "In what was a brilliant horse race, St Mark’s Basilica just got the better of both Tarnawa and Poetic Flare. Clearly the winner would be a big player if he heads to Ascot now."
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