Racing: Frankie Dettori may not have ridden all seven winners as he did on this day 11 years ago, but a power-packed performance aboard Ramonti in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes ensured the Italian stole the show at Ascot once again.
In this race 12 months ago Dettori had railed against the ranks of Ballydoyle for what he perceived as ruining his chance aboard Librettist, but this time he had the Irish team to thank for his success.
For although Godolphin and Saeed Bin Suroor had declared Blue Ksar to set a fair pace for 5-1 shot Ramonti, it was Duke Of Marmalade from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable who handed him his chance on a plate.
Mick Kinane went straight for the front on Duke Of Marmalade and with Blue Ksar never going the gallop, Dettori followed in his path before sending him for home at the two furlong pole.
Ramonti does not tend to win his races impressively and just as he did in the Sussex Stakes, he displayed his trademark determination and refused to let O'Brien's rallying Excellent Art pass.
Dettori has won three Group Ones on the ex-Italian five-year-old, including the Queen Anne Stakes here at the Royal meeting.
"Now he is undoubtedly the best miler in Europe," said Dettori. "He has won three of the biggest races and is a true champion.
"It was a long way from the two-furlong marker to the line, but I had a great champion underneath me and I could hear the whips cracking. He's an ultimate professional and a great fighter."
George Washington, the winner last year, was not declared as the Coolmore operation sought to give their other colts a chance to increase their stud value.
But Dettori added: "He's beaten George Washington twice before and deserves to be champion miler. He's ultra consistent and when I was in front, I knew the others needed legs as he'd fight them all off."
Godolphin have now picked up the QEII four times and Mark Of Esteem's victory in 1996 had been part of Dettori's greatest day.
Ramonti continues to be the shining light of the present and racing manager Simon Crisford said: "We know he is not as brilliant as Mark Of Esteem or Dubai Millennium (1999) but he makes up for it with his hard work and attitude.
"We have Duke Of Marmalade to thank, as he set up the race perfectly for him.
"It's fabulous. Owners have good and bad times, and our bad times seem to attract a lot of attention, but I am confident we will prove our worth."
Of Ramonti's future, Crisford added: "He's had a tough six months and he has probably done enough. Sheikh Mohammed has the call, but Monmouth Park and the Breeders' Cup probably would not suit him.
"There is Hong Kong, but he will stay in training next year."
Jamie Spencer did not have an abundance of luck aboard O'Brien's 15-8 favourite Excellent Art, having to switch his mount when making his move a furlong out before they flashed home to within half a length of Ramonti.
While Duke Of Marmalade was the same distance away, title-chasing Spencer was hit with a one-day ban (October 10) for using the whip with excessive frequency.
However, this crucially does not affect the current tightrope he is walking for careless riding under the 'totting up' procedure.
He reflected: "It was a messy race and I'm surprised no-one laid up behind Frankie."
Crack French filly Darjina (11-4) was never a factor despite having beaten Ramonti last time, and jockey Christophe Soumillon said: "For sure it was the (softer) ground."
Cesare ran a game race to be a head behind the principals in fourth and Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, who own the six-year-old, said: "He's run a blinder and there was more or less the same distance between him and the winner as in the Queen Anne Stakes.
"He's a solid Group Two horse and if he comes out of it OK we might have a crack at the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket."