Ad Valorem gave trainer Aidan O'Brien some much-needed cheer in winning the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes.
The Irishman has been phenomenally successful in recent years but 2004 had brought just one British Group One win before the £110,000 race at Newmarket.
But the two-year-old colt, ridden by Jamie Spencer, held off Rebuttal to win the six-furlong contest by three-quarters of a length.
Favourite Iceman did not settle well but ran on well to take third.
Ad Valorem was immediately cut to 16-1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas by several bookmakers.
"He's a lovely horse," said O'Brien. "He won his maiden very
smoothly then he won a stakes very easily next time - that's why we came here.
"He's in the Dewhurst (at Newmarket on 16 October) but it's very possible he won't run again this year.
"He was always finding enough today and seemed well on top at the line but
he's got a lot of natural speed."
Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes
Newmarket, six furlongs
1 Ad Valorem (J Spencer) 9-2
2 Rebuttal (P Smullen) 9-1
3 Iceman (K Fallon) 9-4f
Nine ran. Dist: ¾l, 2½l.
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MMIX
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