Trainer Aidan O'Brien's remarkable run this season continued today when Black Minnaloushe won the Group One St James' Palace Stakes on the first day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
The three-year-old colt, who won the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh in May, just sneaked it under a terrific ride by Johnny Murtagh.
Murtagh had to switch him from the rails to the centre with just 200 metres to run but ran on strongly to edge the Godolphin Operation's French 2000 Guineas winner Noverre.
"We had bit of trouble down the straight but I knew once we got the space he would win," Murtagh said.
With just a furlong to go it looked Noverre's race as he pounced under Frankie Dettori to take a clear lead, though he veered right across the course and barged into Tambulaine.
However, Murtagh coolly pulled his mount out and chased the leader down.
The John Dunlop-trained Olden Times, a Group One winner in France a fortnight ago, battled on under Gerard Mosse into third just ahead of French challenger Vahorimix, who came with a late run.