The Ascot Gold Cup produced another brilliant finish today as Royal Rebel (8/1) wore down the ultra-game veteran Persian Punch to land yet another Group One prize for Johnny Murtagh.
Murtagh edged ahead inside the last two furlongs on board the eventual winner but was made to fight tooth-and-nail all the way to the line as Persian Punch gave his all in a renewed challenge under Richard Quinn.
Stamina also won the day for Sahara Slew, who ground down the front-running Nafisah to land the the spoils in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes, with Murtagh again in the saddle.
John Oxx`s filly, a 14-1 shot, was ridden to challenge inside the final furlong and just got the better of Nafisah inside the last 100 yards by a head.
Another Irish trainer in Aidan O`Brien recorded his fourth winner of the week when Johannesburg ran out an impressive winner of the Group Three Norfolk Stakes.