Golden Horde was an emphatic winner of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
Clive Cox's colt, a Group Two-winning juvenile before finishing second in last year's Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, marked his seasonal return at the top level with a length-and-a-half triumph in the feature race on day four.
Adam Kirby had the 5-1 victor handily placed behind the pace set by Mums Tipple, before pouncing in the final two furlongs to win with authority.
American filly Kimari, sent off at the same price as the winner, had to settle for second place for the second year in succession at the famous meeting - having finished runner-up for Wesley Ward in the Queen Mary Stakes 12 months ago.
Ventura Rebel stayed on into third at 50-1, two and a half lengths further back.
The feature race of the day goes to Adam Kirby and Clive Cox 🏆
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2020
Golden Horde sprints home to land the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup!#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/OhcVhyxpjJ
Kirby said: "I'm very fortunate and I'm very lucky that I have been on a lot of very good sprinters, and I'm lucky to have Clive around me as he is a top man and we get on very well.
"These big winners need to come because the show needs to go on. It's just a great feeling when you can get a decent horse.
"You owe them the world, as it is very hard to get a special one. When you get a good one it makes it all worthwhile.
"Fitness would not be a problem for one of Clive's as he is no fool. He had him right. All credit goes to Clive, all I have to do is steer them."
Though Golden Horde was not winning out of turn having twice been placed in Group One company last year, Kirby hopes he can continue improving with age like his sire, a horse who provided the pair with victory in the 2013 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting.
Kirby said: "He did deserve it. He was unfortunate to get beat in the Middle Park. We got beat by an exceptional horse on the day in Earthlight. When he won at Goodwood it was an exceptional performance. You can't take anything away from the horse, he is rock solid.
"It is a very hard question to say which of the different sprinters was best of them all, each and every one of them was very good.
"This fellow is exactly the same as his father. He has got a high cruising speed and he lengthens. He will improve again next year, like his father did."
Cox said: "I'm very proud of him. To win a Group One first time with any horse is difficult, but even more so with the way things are this year.
"He is a horse to go forwards with and I really hope and pray that he has got a longer journey to go ahead of him. He is just top class and great to deal with.
"I think we always trained him last year with the knowledge that with the right sort of behaviour he would be a better horse this year. It is just fantastic when it goes right and the dreams are realised."
Cox was also quick to suggest what is next on the agenda for Golden Horde.
He added: "I would like to think the July Cup would be next, that was very much on our minds a long way out. He has done the job really well, but I would like to think that has put a real edge on him having a race."
