Goodwood: Paco Boy gave further notice of his untapped potential to lift the feature event on day one of Goodwood, the Group Two Betfair Cup.
In a seven-race career Richard Hannon's colt has only encountered defeat on two occasions, firstly on his racecourse debut and also on his most recent outing in the French 2000 Guineas, where he could manage only seventh.
Hannon pointed out mitigating circumstances for that performance and dropped back to seven furlongs from a mile and against older horses here, he took a prominent position under Richard Hughes.
The generous change of gear that propelled Paco Boy (7-1) to victory in Newbury's Greenham Stakes was again in evidence as he joined Stimulation insidethe final furlong, passing the post a neck in front but looking to have a little more in hand.
"I didn't plan to ride him like that but he got into a nice rhythm and I just left him there," said Hughes. "He's got a great turn of foot and I think he'll go back to a mile now — there's a very good one in him."
Hannon added: "He's been doing all his work with Major Cadeaux, who runs in the Sussex Stakes, and has been going very well.
"I was a bit worried when I saw him so close at the top of the hill as he normally he comes with a rattle.
"He got in all sorts of trouble in France — they just all closed in on him — and instead of running at Royal Ascot we just kept him for here. He has all sorts of options now."
Course specialist Dunelight held on for third while the disappointment was 5-4 favourite Infallible, the top-class three-year-old filly who was only fifth.
Infallible's trainer John Gosden may consider the Park Stakes at Doncaster in the autumn, while jockey Ryan Moore reflected: "Two furlongs out I thought I was going to win but she just emptied out.
"She has had a busy time of it running in the Nell Gwyn, Guineas, Coronation and Falmouth — maybe that is what it was."
Trainer Hughie Morrison thinks Stimulation will improve with age and will look next at the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on August 16.
The popular Marcus Tregoning has only just made double figures in winners for the season but Finjaan (5-1) ensured some optimism for the future by gamely holding off Hannon's Bonnie Charlie in an exciting renewal of the Betfair Molecomb Stakes.
"Sometimes you don't have the ammunition but this is a great track and I took Sir Percy here when he was my best two-year-old," said Tregoning.
"This is one of the fastest I have had but I think he wants six furlongs and if he gets even further, he'll be very exciting."
As well as winning the Betfair Gordon Stakes on Conduit, Moore completed a near 123-1 treble thanks to Gulf Express (10-1) and Sandbuch (13-2).
The latter was leading home a Luca Cumani one-two in the Detica Summer Handicap with Bauer and the pair were trimmed in the betting for the totesport Ebor.
But the trainer warned: "Bauer will go there for sure but with a 4lb penalty Sandbuch may have put himself out of proceedings. We'll have to see."
Moore had earlier powered from last to first aboard Sir Michael Stoute's Gulf Express in the Bank Of Scotland Investment Service Stakes and was unpenalised for slightly hampering Pinpoint in the closing stages.
Mark Johnston adores this sophisticated five-day gathering and treats it as a working holiday.
The Scotsman habitually leaves with winners too and Yamal (5-1) held onto the Tatler Summer Season Stakes.
However, winning rider Greg Fairley was found guilty of several careless riding offences and banned for a total of four days (August 12-15 inclusive).
Gyr (4-1), from a strong family, provided a winner for the locally-based John Dunlop in the McKeever St Lawrence Bloodstock EBF Maiden Stakes.