Paco Boy silenced his doubters as he proved he stays a mile at the highest level with an impressive victory in the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of Royal Ascot 2009.
The four-year-old's ability to stay the full eight furlongs has been the subject of much debate for some time and his supporters suffered a blow when he was defeated in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month.
However, any losses were recouped as Richard Hannon's charge travelled sweetly throughout for Richard Hughes before showing a decisive turn of foot inside the final furlong.
Godolphin's Gladiatorus was sent off the 9-4 favourite and burst out of the stalls to build up a five-length lead at one stage but Ahmed Ajtebi's mount could not sustain the gallop, starting to back-pedal two furlongs out.
Aqlaam went on but Paco Boy was going ominously well with Cesare and Main Aim also trying to make their bids.
But once a confident Hughes pressed the button, the race was as good as over with Paco Boy pulling a length and a half clear of Cesare at the line.
Hannon, winning this race for the first time, said: ‘I think it's put a few old jokers to bed. If he didn't stay a mile, he stayed it better than the others anyway.
‘He wasn't quite right at Newbury and came home with an infection in a foot, he wasn't moving quite right.
‘Now we've had the time to get him right again and I couldn't be more delighted for the little horse.’
Asked about future plans, he said: ‘We'll go for the Prix de la Foret, of course, and we were going to whip back to the July Cup if things didn't happen here but we are going to have a rethink now I suppose.’
Hughes added: ‘A child could ride him when he's right but at Newbury he was pulling and that's not him. We brought him home and he had poison in his foot, so he had a good reason. He deserves everything he gets now.
‘He was electric today and he's something else. People kept knocking him but they have to accept he's a top-class horse now.’
Cesare's trainer James Fanshawe was delighted to see the eight-year-old make a sterling return after 339 days off the track.
He said: ‘He had a foot problem towards the end of last year and then he did a splint back in March.
‘Horses like him are few and far between as he's had his problems and has always come back.
‘I would imagine he will come back for the Summer Mile all being well.’
Aqlaam's trainer Willie Haggas said: ‘I'm really delighted and it shows he's on his way back. When they have an injury as he did, it's very difficult to get them back, and I did think after his first run of the year that we were in trouble.
‘Let's hope he can carry on the improvement.’
Michael Stoute, trainer of fourth-placed Main Aim, is now looking to drop back in trip.
He said: ‘We were very pleased but I would say he will go back to the trips he's been winning at.
‘You can't say he didn't get the mile but he's more effective back at seven furlongs.’
