Trawlerman claimed the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York in a thrilling finish, thanks to another Frankie Dettori masterclass.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old had a horror draw in stall 20, yet the Italian had the confidence to stay wide, all on his own, until they turned into the straight.
Evoking memories of Trawlerman's sire, Golden Horn, who stayed wide when landing the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Dettori kept things simple and while he was passed by Earl Of Tyrone and then Alfred Boucher, his mount rallied in the last 200 yards.
Wednesday’s winner Alfred Boucher made a gallant dash close home and had his head in front two strides from the post, but Trawlerman kept finding to score by a short-head.
Earl Of Tyrone finished a length further back in third, while John Leeper was fourth.
How Tight is that, Trawlerman has just got there in time under a race riding masterclass from Frankie Detori who has a double on the day, Another big winner for trainers John & Thady Gosden and team Godolphin. 🥇@FrankieDettori @thadygosden @godolphin @SkyBet pic.twitter.com/U9f6TzHhvP
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 20, 2022
Dettori said: "My colleagues gave me a little bit of rope. I managed to get him to relax and in the straight I thought I was beaten but the grey horse came and kind of helped me.
"I thought I was just running out of runway and I might not get there but on the line, in fairness, he dug deep, put his head down and I thought 'Ah! Close!’.
"In the past I’ve been close with Lady Aurelia (in the Nunthorpe) so I kept my mouth shut and I waited for the judge!"
John Gosden paid tribute to Dettori, whom he had a public falling-out with earlier in the season, which resulted in a week’s sabbatical for the rider.
"I think when we went and walked the course before the Arc with Golden Horn, we saw how wide his draw was and Frankie said, ‘I’m just going to stay out there’.
"We did it here with Muntahaa and Jim Crowley, who thought I was mad. I said it was a Baldrick plan that can work."
He added: "You have to have a very good owner who would understand if it doesn’t work. If it doesn’t come off, it doesn’t come off. There is only one risk – if they go down the outside, they know where the stables are."
Of the public falling-out with Dettori, which was quickly addressed, Gosden added: "I could not get his attention – I could not get him to concentrate, that’s all. In the end we gave him a bit of a public warning – that’s the way it is. He was left on the bench like he would be by a football manager.
"He has just ridden two fantastic races today and when our man is in the zone he is absolutely top class. When he is not in the zone, he is a menace!"
Earlier, Dettori was also seen to good effect on the Knavesmire as Kinross (5-1) came with a late burst to win the City Of York Stakes for in-form Ralph Beckett.
The five-year-old had advertised his well-being when going down by a neck to Sandrine at Goodwood in the Lennox Stakes, but the tables were easily turned in this Group Two contest.
Dettori was motionless as he tracked the pace set by Art Power, who was quickly challenged by Pogo and Sandrine approaching the final furlong.
Yet once Kinross was given a inch of rein, Dettori barely had to move a muscle to persuade his mount to go clear. The winner had a length and quarter to spare at the line from Pogo, with Sandrine a length and a half further down in third.
Kinross takes home the £400,000 Group 2 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes in really taking style for Frankie Dettori and Ralph Beckett. 👏@SkyBet @FrankieDettori @RalphBeckett pic.twitter.com/tjkYuZiwDB
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 20, 2022
Beckett said: "He ought to have won the Lennox, that's a matter of opinion though. We thought this race had really set up well for him and so it proved.
"As he’s got older he’s got hardier, he was quite fragile as a young horse, he didn’t really come to maturity until he was gelded and then everything started to work out from there.
"He’s definitely not ground dependent any more and that’s great, we minded him last year and it worked out for us. We haven’t had so many choices this year, he was always going to win from halfway.
"I’m delighted, he’s a very fun horse to have. He might go to the Park Stakes, I’d drop him back to six in the Haydock Park sprint if it came up soft but he’ll definitely go to the Foret all being well."
