Johnny Murtagh put the seal on a memorable season as he maintained his big-race winning habit right to the end with a victory aboard Dilshaan in the Racing Post Trophy.
Murtagh, 30, registered his 10th Group One success of the year when guiding the 14 to 1 chance home in the £175,000 contest at Doncaster on Saturday.
Dilshaan's victory took Sir Michael Stoute, already certain to be crowned champion trainer to the verge of £3 million in winning prize-money in Britain. "I can't believe how well it's gone," said Murtagh whose haul this season has included the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"At the start of the year I would have been happy to have 10 winners let alone 10 Group winners.
"But it just kicked off well and kept going right through the year."
Tamburlaine had looked set to land the prize as he was sent clear by Richard Hughes with two furlongs to travel.
But the final run to the line proved too much for the 11 to 4 chance as Dilshaan flashed past him and went on to score by two and a half lengths.
"When Richard quickened clear it took me a couple of strides to get into it but once he got going I knew he was going to do it," said Murtagh.
"Fair dues to the horse this was only his second run and he will be the real article next year. I'm sure he will get one and a half miles."
Dilshaan is on offer at 20 to 1 for the Epsom Derby. Nayef, an impressive winner at Ascot earlier in the month, remains the 10 to 1 favourite. Stoute, who the previous week combined with Murtagh to land the Champion Stakes with Kalanisi, said: "I certainly wasn't confident he'd win but he was entitled to run well.
"He's done it really nicely and is a horse with a lot of scope. He's an interesting prospect and will need to go further than a mile next season."
Murtagh is unlikely to be seen in Britain again this season, explaining: "There's no more Group Ones but anyway I need to ride a few winners for John Oxx to keep my job with him next year!"
The jockey is also planning to ride in America at the Breeders' Cup as well as Hong Kong and Japan before the end of the year.
Hughes, commenting on Tamburlaine, said: "I was pleased enough with him but he just tied up in the closing stages in this ground." Heavy rain put paid to today's meeting at Leicester. The fixture was called off yesterday after an inspection found that the course was unfit for racing.
