Michael Stoute sent out the first two home as Notnowcato just pipped stablemate Maraahel in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
The Freemason Lodge pair fought out a thrilling finish, with Notnowcato (8 to 1) prevailing by a short head under Ryan Moore. Blue Monday kept on to claim third in the Group One contest, but hot favourite Dylan Thomas disappointed in finishing fourth.
Frankie Dettori took the seven-runner field along at a steady early pace aboard Cherry Mix, while Mick Kinane had trouble settling the hard-pulling Dylan Thomas in third.
Turning into the straight, Dettori upped the tempo a notch and while Notnowcato responded to the change of gear, Kinane was already sending out the distress signals on the runaway Irish Derby winner.
As Cherry Mix started to struggle, Notnowcato hit the front but Richard Hills was just getting to work aboard the slow-starting Maraahel, who came through to lay down his challenge in the final furlong. Maraahel (9 to 1) seemed to head his stablemate at one stage but Notnowcato dug deep for Moore to just get back up in the shadow of the post.
Aidan O'Brien felt the steady early pace and the easy ground might have gone against Dylan Thomas.
He said: "It was a very slow pace and he was very fresh early on. He's a good-moving horse but we will just take him home and see how he is, then decide where to go from there."
