Duke Of Marmalade served up a finish befitting the status attached to Ascot's mid-summer highlight with a power-packed display under Johnny Murtagh in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Critics have been quick to knock the traditional clash of the generations due to the absence of any member of the current Classic crop, but Duke Of Marmalade silenced the knockers with a towering performance.
Supporters of the 4-6 favourite roared in earnest as Murtagh flicked the switch on the four-year-old over two furlongs out, and his mount started to devour the ground.
But those who took the odds had a few heart-stopping moments as the talented-but-quirky Papal Bull threw down a strong challenge under Olivier Peslier.
Sir Michael Stoute's charge went a neck up inside the distance, but Murtaghwent into overdrive and got back up to claim a half-length success, his fourth consecutive Group One triumph this season.
Last year's runner-up Youmzain was relegated to third and was a yawning nine lengths back, with St Leger winner Lucarno dropping away to finish seventh of the eight runners having been handy early.
For trainer Aidan O'Brien it was a 14th Group One of the campaign, and the master of Ballydoyle paid tribute to his Coolmore bosses for keeping older horses in training.
"At one time he would have been retired at the end of his three-year-old career, and he wouldn't have had the chance to race at four," said O'Brien, who was winning the race for a third time.
He continued: "It was amazing. Johnny thought he had the race won and couldn't believe another horse went with him.
"I was happy when Papal Bull came upsides though as Johnny hadn't really gone into overdrive on him.
"He races lazily over a mile and a mile and a quarter, and it so rare to have top form over a mile and then show that aggression at the end of a strong mile and a half.
"You have to remember that he was top-class over a mile so to do that makes him very unique.
"He is a great horse and only does enough to win. He doesn't do much and is a hard horse to assess.
"We will discuss plans this week at home but I would prefer to drop him back to a mile and quarter for races like the Juddmonte International."
Despite O'Brien's inclination to go back in trip, he was trimmed across the boards for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Totesport, William Hill, VC Bet, Stan James and Coral all offer 5-1, with the latter also going 6-1 from 8s for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Murtagh added: "The race worked out very well for me and I can't tell you how well he quickened.
"I went to the front very easily and I quickened up very well and was surprised to see a horse come with me.
"But my horse has all the attributes of a great horse. I love the way he puts his head down and eats the ground — he is a true champion.
"He has the will to win like all of the greats I have ridden.
"He finished nine-lengths clear of the third and that doesn't happen too often in Group One races, and he will be hard to beat for the rest of the year.
"I have ridden 12 Group one winners in a season before and have equalled it today. I am enjoying the job and this horse is one of the best I have ridden."
Lovelace was the 6-1 favourite for the race but had to be taken out moments before the gates opened.
Johnston's chagrin soon dissipated, however, as the Royston Ffrench-ridden Laa Rayb (18-1) came from another parish to comfortably hold Dhaular Dhar by a length and a quarter.
Giganticus and Excusez Moi finished third and fourth respectively.
"I was always confident I was travelling ever so well and he did it well in the end. He's a typical Mark Johnston horse - very, very tough," Ffrench said afterwards. "There's no reason he cannot go on to better things with the turn of foot he showed there."
African Skies looked a 1000 Guineas contender when opening her account for Kevin Ryan and Neil Callan in the Princess Margaret Independent Newspaper Stakes.
The 11-2 chance went down by two and a half lengths when fourth to Cuis Ghaire in the Albany Stakes over the same course and distance at the Royal meeting - but tactically things worked out for her far better in this Group Three heat.
Callan drove his mount into the lead inside the distance and the combination held Rosabee and Excellerator by a length and a neck respectively.
Ryan said: "She's done marvellously from Royal Ascot to today, and that's something a lot of two-year-olds don't manage.
"Physically, she's done well and she has such a great temperament. It's a muggy day but she was as cool as a cucumber."
Of future plans, the Hambleton handler added: "We'll take her home and see, but she really looks a filly for next year.
"What she badly needs is a step up in trip."
In the first race of the day Sylvester Kirk edged out The Legal Blonde in the Andrex Winkfield Stakes.