Solow took his status to a new a level after showcasing his immense talents with a game victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The clash between the Freddy Head-trained five-year-old and Hong Kong superstar Able Friend had been billed as one of the clashes of the meeting.
Although the duel between the pair failed to materialise, the impressive winner of both the Dubai Turf and Prix d'Ispahan gained a host of new fans with his battling qualities to claim his third successive Group One prize.
Toormore cut out the early running, closely pursued by the 11-8 favourite in the hands of Maxime Guyon and the Kevin Ryan-trained Glory Awaits.
As the field hit the furlong pole, Guyon sent the grey to win his race and the response was immediate.
Lockinge hero Night Of Thunder looked to mount a serious challenge but his effort soon petered out and it was left to fellow French raider Esoterique to throw down the last gauntlet.
Despite finishing strongly Esoterique could not reach Solow, with the son of Singspiel taking a length victory to give his trainer a second Queen Anne after superstar mare Goldikova in 2010.
Head said: "That was great. He is a fantastic horse and a great warrior. He is a lovely horse that has great balance, great action and is very easy to train.
"I was a bit worried as the pace was not that fast early on and he got a bit caught for speed.
"I want him to last so we won't run in every race, we'll choose our races and try run him for a few more years, maybe the Sussex Stakes (next).
"I'm not sure the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland will suit him as it is a very tight race track and he's a long-striding horse."
A step up in trip could now be on the agenda for third-placed Cougar Mountain, according to his trainer Aidan O'Brien.
He said: "He ran very well. Our horse was coming home very well and we're delighted with his run.
"As he sharpens up he might be OK over a mile, but it looks like he will be OK over a mile and a quarter, too."
Andre Fabre, trainer of Esoterique, was delighted with the performance of the five-year-old mare and is of the opinion she is capable of winning another Group One.
He said: "I'm delighted by her - she ran a very good race.
"The winner has a very high rating, and when we go back to racing her against females she will probably win another Group One. She definitely needs this type of going."
"The aura of the whole thing got to him, but I'm sure he'll be OK and we'll be looking to come back here with something else" - John Moore on Able Friend's poor run
The big disappointment was undoubtedly Able Friend who failed to give his true showing when finishing back in sixth.
His trainer John Moore said: "If one was going to look for a negative it was that we saddled him up and he wasn't himself and he was on his toes.
"When he got down to the start the jockey said he was quite hot. That's not normally him, but he seemed to pull up OK from what I could see and when we get him back to Hong Kong I'm sure we'll get him in full swing again.
"It was great being invited to be part of the Royal meeting. I'm sorry he wasn't able to live up to his Hong Kong races, but he'll be back.
"His next run will be in October leading to the International Mile.
"You've got to remember animals travelling long distances are in a new environment and everything. I was hoping he'd be of the same demeanour here in the paddock, but that wasn't the case.
"The aura of the whole thing got to him, but I'm sure he'll be OK and we'll be looking to come back here with something else."
