Pat Smullen enjoyed a convincing success on Captain Ramius in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup on his first ride at the Scottish track.
The multiple Irish champion made the most of the opportunity as he helped trainer Kevin Ryan to back-to-back victories in Europe's richest sprint handicap.
While last year's winner Our Jonathan failed to make an impact this time round, it was 16-1 shot Captain Ramius who landed the spoils in tremendous fashion.
Sholaan took the field along until a furlong out where Captain Ramius was produced to storm into the lead.
He soon put the race to bed to win by two and a half lengths from 2008 hero Regal Parade (25-1) with 8-1 favourite Maarek a further length and a quarter away in third.
"It's a great track and I'm sure I'll be coming back," said Smullen.
"The ground is not as bad as I thought it would be. We have been racing on desperate ground in Ireland.
"He travelled very well for me and I always thought he was going to win and he picked up for me when I asked him.
"Thanks to Kevin for asking me over, we go back a long way in Ireland."
Ryan, who also won this race with Advanced in 2007, said: "I'm delighted. We had four good horses going into the race.
"After the Bunbury Cup I said to Clodagh (McStay, owner) I was going to train him for the Ayr Gold Cup.
"He's a tough horse. It's great for the owners, they've let me do what I want with him. And I'm delighted for Pat, who's come over from Ireland to ride him.
"We start thinking about this race in January. When it comes off it's great."
Paul Mulrennan's double on Mass Rally and Melody Of Love was tempered by two four-day bans for using his whip above the permitted level.
Mulrennan brought Mass Rally (16-1) to collar Highland Colori on the line to snatch the William Hill Ayr Silver Cup.
Highland Colori looked like landing a gamble, but the Michael Dods-trained Mass Rally powered home to get up for a short-head success.
Dods said: "I'm so pleased for the horse. You just can't bustle him along, you have to sit and wait, but he has plenty of ability and Paul gave him a great ride.
"You have to sit and suffer with him, but it came off today."
Mulrennan steered Melody Of Love (7-2) to a cosy length and a half victory in the Laundry Cottage Stud Firth Of Clyde Stakes.
"I'm really pleased with that. She is our first winner in a Group race," said trainer Ann Duffield.
"I went down to the start with her so I didn't see the race.
"Paul has ridden her in all her races and he knows her very well. It's a great result.
"The way she works at home we thought she would go through the ground. She has a huge heart and is very tough."
Jack Dexter justified strong support in the William Hill Bronze Cup.
Trained near Glasgow by Jim Goldie, the 5-1 favourite came through strongly under Graham Lee to beat Cheveton by two and a quarter lengths.
"A very emotional win. It's great for the Scottish trainers and as we bred the horse it makes it even more exciting," said Goldie.
"He's by Orientor, one of the best horses we've had, and it's a dream that he might come back and go for the Gold Cup next year."
The Andrew Balding-trained Opera Gal (8-13) romped to an 11-length victory in the williamhill.com Doonside Cup.
"She did it very well and she handled the ground well. It would have taken a good one to beat her today," said jockey Jim Crowley.
"I think she's good enough to step up to a Group Three."
Ian McInnes sent out Top Notch Tonto (11-1) to win the Sked Construction - Concrete's What We Do Nursery in the hands of 3lb claimer Dale Swift.
"That was a hell of a performance under top weight," said the East Yorkshire trainer.
"I thought he would go well but you never know with that weight and on that sort of ground."
