Max Dynamite entered the reckoning for the Melbourne Cup after flooring a host of top-class stayers with consummate ease in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York.
Although taking a more unconventional route to the Group Two contest, having chased home Quick Jack in the Galway Hurdle on his previous outing, the five-year-old produced a vintage display to give Willie Mullins another big-race winner on the level.
The Michael Bell-trained Big Orange in a bid to complete a hat-trick of Group-race success took the field along at a steady pace before attempting to kick from the front midway down the long home straight at the Knavesmire.
Having raced alongside stablemate Simenon for much of the two-mile contest, Max Dynamite travelled effortlessly into contention in the hands of Frankie Dettori to draw alongside Mizzou hitting the final two furlongs as long-time leader Big Orange weakened out of contention.
As the two moved clear it was soon apparent there was to be only one winner with Max Dynamite, carrying the colours of owner Rich Ricci made famous by the like of top National Hunt performers Faugheen and Annie Power, forging on in impressive fashion.
The 8-1 chance crossed the line four and a half lengths clear of Mizzou, with Hidden Gold a further length back in third.
Although favourite Clever Cookie looked to mount a challenge after moving into a promising position from the rear of the field, the Peter Niven-trained runner could only finish fourth.
Dettori said: "Willie Mullins is a legend and wearing these colours means a lot.
"He gave me a dream ride, I don't know which one I'll ride in the Gold Cup next year!
"I knew he'd get me to the line and he won very well.
"He beat some very good horses very easily, you've got to think of the Gold Cup next year.
"I think the ground was key as he likes to get his toe in and sometimes it can be very quick ground in Australia"
Cumani was satisfied with the performance of runner-up Mizzou hinting that a trip to Doncaster could be next on the agenda.
He said: "He got his revenge on the Gold Cup horses, but when the winner went past him I wondered 'where did that come from'?
"He ran a cracking race. He won't go for the Melbourne Cup, but maybe next year.
"We'll look at all the Cup races here, Doncaster perhaps and then, hopefully, the big one on Champions Day."
Hidden Gold's trainer Saeed bin Suroor said her next likely target will be back against her own sex in the Park Hill Stakes.
He said: "She's run a big race. To finish third in a Group Two, we are happy with that. We might take her to the Doncaster St Leger meeting for the Park Hill Stakes.
"One-mile-six-plus is the best distance for her, and faster or good ground."
Niven said of the fourth, Clever Cookie: "Two and a half out I was happy, but he didn't pick up like he normally does. I don't know why. Maybe I was too soft on him after Ascot because he came back a bit light.
"Take the winner away and he's not been beaten far at all and this was as good a stayers' race as there is. We've beaten the Ascot and Goodwood Cup winners, but only finished fourth.”
