Canford Cliffs lived up to the pre-race hype as he showed his rivals a clean pair of heels with a wide-margin success in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Richard Hannon's colt had been talked of as banker material in the run-up to the meeting and support never waned as he was sent off the 7-4 favourite market leader.
He did not give favourite-backers an anxious moment as the two-year-old led over a furlong out and stormed home by six lengths from Xtension, with Rakaan three-quarters of a length away third.
The winner was completing a double for Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes, who had earlier taken the Queen Anne Stakes with Paco Boy.
Hannon said: ‘I love this horse. He was a very good looking horse at the sales and had a lot of character. He is the sort of horse you would look at and think 'if I could afford him I'd have him'.
‘He's such a laid-back character. Richard rode him work one morning and said he was a great horse.
‘He's very relaxed at home and walks down to the canters like an old horse.
‘It would be hard to find a two-year-old I've had as good as him. It was a long time ago to Rock City.
‘We might look at something like the July Stakes and we can't forget the Doncaster Sales race, but we'll have to think about it. This horse wants looking after, he could be next year's horse.’
Hughes added: ‘I rode him a few canters and I liked him a lot. I thought he would be ready in July, he was a bit leggy and a bit long.
‘I gave him a half-spin one morning and I've never ridden anything like him in my life. I told the boss we had something serious here.
‘He went 10 lengths up on two others and the lads got a rollicking. They said they couldn't lay up with him. It was an unbelievable bit of work.
‘This horse shouldn't have won - I've never known a horse to run away with me and win a race.
‘He was a little bit lit up going to the start. It was only his second run. He was a little bit keen, he jumped really quick and was a bit keen again when the others came upsides me as he does all his work in behind.
‘I've never known a horse pull that hard and win a race. He's the best I've ridden by far. He's a freak.’
Xtension's trainer Clive Cox said: ‘I knew he would improve a fair chunk from his first run and now the dreams have gone up a gear. He's in the Tattersalls Fairyhouse race, which would be foolish to avoid bearing in mind the money up for grabs.
‘But my heart is set on Pattern races over further in the autumn.’
Brian Meehan's Rakaan filled the runner-up spot behind Canford Cliffs on his debut and his trainer added: ‘I was delighted with him and he's more or less confirmed the form with the winner.
‘I hope he'll be a July Stakes horse, but we'll have to see.’
