Aidan O'Brien made light of his achievement of reaching 50 Royal Ascot winners, describing himself as "only a small part of a very big team" after Even Song achieved his landmark success in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
O'Brien remains as humble and as dedicated as he was when Harbour Master gave the Ballydoyle trainer his first winner at Flat racing's biggest meeting in 1997.
"I'm only a small part of a very big team. Everybody works hard and I'm happy for everybody. I'm very grateful," he said.
He may have an abundance of talent to go racing with, but horses have to be trained and placed to perfection to produce the right results and Even Song is a prime example.
Though she had every right to go to the Investec Oaks at Epsom after her promising third on her seasonal debut at Newmarket, O'Brien felt the right route for her was to come to Royal Ascot and then hopefully go on to the Curragh for the Irish Oaks.
After all, he did have Minding for Epsom and the Qipco 1000 Guineas heroine duly doubled her Classic tally.
The decision to wait for the Ribblesdale proved correct as she justified heavy market support as the 15-8 favourite.
Even Song was not too far behind a steady gallop set by Ted Durcan on Shall We.
Oaks runner-up Architecture ran keen from a wide draw under Frankie Dettori and gave herself little chance of going one better.
Roger Varian's maiden Ajman Princess had the perfect trip through on the rail and showed a determined attitude, keeping on gamely but she had no answer to Even Song's turn of foot.
Everything opened up in front of Ryan Moore and she soon put the race to bed when asked a question.
Even Song powered a length and a half clear of Ajman Princess, with The Black Princess holding off the fast-finishing Queen's Trust for third.
O'Brien, who still has some way to go to overhaul the late Henry Cecil's record of 75 winners, said: "It's unbelievable. She's a lovely filly.
"Ryan rode her in Newmarket in the Pretty Polly and thought she was the second best filly so we decided to leave her and come here instead of going to Epsom and running against Minding, so we're delighted she's won.”
There was a fourth winner of the meeting for Godolphin as 11-2 chance Hawkbill prevailed in the Tercentenary Stakes for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
"I'm delighted to get a winner on the board. Full credit to the team at home, they've done a great job in keeping him cool," said Appleby.
Robert Cowell provided the popular Luke Morris with a first Royal Ascot winner as 8-1 chance Prince Of Lir remained unbeaten in the Norfolk Stakes.
Morris said: "It's a great buzz. It's what you work hard for."
REPLAY: Prince Of Lir storms to victory in the Norfolk Stakes in the opening race of Day Three at #RoyalAscothttps://t.co/Pl96iODy71
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 16, 2016
Former National Hunt jockey Jamie Osborne notched a sixth career win at the showpiece fixture when 13-2 poke Defrocked clung on to win the Britannia in dramatic circumstances.
Having hit the front a furlong out, Jamie Spencer's mount drifted right across to the rail but held off Abe Lincoln to win by a short head.
"We don't have too many very good horses so when we get them you've got the plan them and this has been a plot since last autumn, it's great when it comes off," said Osborne.
Day three ended with a first for top jumps trainer Alan King and young jockey Willy Twiston-Davies as they recorded a maiden Royal victory courtesy of Primitivo in the King George V Stakes at 13-2.
