Star turn from rampant Limato

The Henry Candy-trained four-year-old put up a superb performance to quash any doubts about being dropped in distance from a mile to six furlongs.

Limato (9-2 favourite) went on to score by two lengths from Suedois in the hands of Harry Bentley, who was claiming a first domestic Group One and also won the finale aboard Gold Faith. Candy, who also saddled the disappointing Twilight Son, said: “He’s exciting and absolutely amazing to watch.

“I would think he’d stick at this trip. It would be rather fun if he ran in the Sussex Stakes (back over a mile at Goodwood). I wouldn’t rule it out totally –it’s a thought.”

Boynton (7-1) earlier got the better of hot favourite War Decree after a pulsating duel in the bet365 Superlative Stakes.

The two principals pulled well clear of the rest of the field to suggest the form of this Group Two contest could be prove to be top drawer.

Winning trainer Charlie Appleby said: “We’ll maybe go to Ireland and have a look at the National Stakes (Curragh), but I’ll sit back and let the horse do the talking.”

Dane O’Neill celebrated his recent return from injury with a notable success on Mutakayyef in the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot.

The William Haggas-trained 7-2 favourite had made a triumphant return to action at York last month in his first race since October, and followed up in tremendous style to take Group Two honours by two and a quarter lengths.

Just for good measure, O’Neill also hit the target aboard Paulownia in the Kelly Group Maiden Auction Stakes.

Educate, meanwhile, finally came good at York when he won the 57th John Smith’s Cup at the fourth attempt.

Elbereth flew at the death, but jockey Thomas Brown had expertly worked out his fractions to take this valuable mile-and-a-quarter handicap with a hint of authority.

Brown said: “I’m just out of my claim – I lost it a couple of weeks ago at Lingfield – and to ride a big winner like this is great.”

Pamona produced a resurgent performance to cause a major upset in the the John Smith’s Silver Cup.

The Duke Of Marmalade filly proved well up to this level when third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, but had been largely disappointing since.

No-shows at Goodwood and Nottingham on her first two starts of this year prompted connections to switch the four-year-old from the Luca Cumani yard to Ralph Beckett and she was a 25-1 shot on her debut for her new trainer in this Listed event.

Jim Crowley rode a patient race, settling his mount towards the rear of the field before making steady headway from the home turn.

Pamona loomed up travelling ominously well inside the final two furlongs and found plenty for pressure to get the better of Barsanti and Quest For More by two lengths and the same.

The triumph completed a double on the card for the Beckett-Crowley combination, having earlier teamed up well with Magic Circle.

Marsha could be stepped into top company back in Yorkshire after she showed blinding pace in the Listed John Smith’s City Walls Stakes.

Trainer Sir Mark Prescott said: “She’ll go to Goodwood now (King George Stakes) and if she won that we might think about supplementing her for the Nunthorpe back here.”

On a breathless afternoon of sport, Birchwood was another horse to follow after he maintained Godolphin’s rich vein of form when proving successful in the CorbettSports City Plate at Chester.