Racing:Arctic Cosmos floored hot favourite Rewilding to win the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster. Trained by John Gosden and sent off at 12-1, William Buick's mount showed reservoirs of stamina in the world oldest Classic to deny Midas Touch and the front-running Corsica.
Godolphin's Rewilding had been the subject of a seismic gamble - reported earlier in the day as having been the best-backed horse of the season - and was sent off the even-money market leader. But those droves of punters who followed the groundswell of momentum were left on the canvas as Frankie Dettori's partner failed to show the necessary dash at the finish, looking in trouble a fair way out.
Corsica predictably set a generous gallop in his role as pacemaker to Rewilding, with Ted Spread and Total Command in respective second and third a mile from home.
Rewilding, meanwhile, was fourth from last as they continued the left-handed pursuit towards the final six furlongs. Corsica was still in front four out, at which stage Arctic Cosmos was spotted travelling beautifully under his young rider.
Gosden's colt, sporting blinkers for the first time, then usurped the brave front-runner a furlong and a half from home and slalomed readily clear to score by a length and three-quarters.
Runner-up Midas Touch (13-2) ran a stout race for the Ballydoyle team, but was no match for the winner, while the gallant Corsica was another nose adrift.
Rewilding flattered to deceive and sadly failed to land a blow for those many punters who had backed him on Town Moor. Buick, enjoying a tremendous first season as stable jockey to Gosden, said: "It's unbelievable, I just can't believe it.
"It's a very good buzz - I've won a Leger on a very good horse. He's been dossing all year, he's still a big baby. We put the blinkers on him to help him concentrate and it's worked."
Gosden said: "We've always dreamt he was a Leger horse and he's done it like a proper horse. Our dreams have come true and we're over the moon. I expected him to be in the top three, but I didn't think he'd beat the favourite.
"He (Rewilding) obviously didn't run his true race but we belonged with Midas Touch and we beat him. William felt he was travelling too well and had to take a pull early on. The Leger is a great race - a great day - and this is a very good horse.
"He's in the Breeders' Cup, the mile-and-a-half Turf, and we may dream about that."
Rider Colm O'Donoghue had "no excuses" after Midas Touch's fine effort for the Aidan O'Brien team, while Corsica's jockey Joe Fanning said: "He's run an absolute screamer, he travelled well and stayed on well.
"It's as good a result as we could have expected."
Ed Dunlop's dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy moved powerfully before running out of steam, eventually taking fourth. Dunlop said: "She travelled like the best horse in the race and really it was a great run from a non-stayer. We will take her home and have a think about it (whether to run again this season)."
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said of the beaten favourite, who finished sixth: "That was very disappointing.
"He wasn't the same horse as at York - at York he travelled and stayed on, but for whatever reason he just didn't today. He was in trouble a long way out and we didn't see the real Rewilding today. He looked fine afterwards so we will just take a view."
Dettori added: "I knew I was beaten at Rosehill, I thought I would wait a while and give him a breather, then ask again in the straight. But he was on his knees, that was not his running."