The strongly backed Lead Artist justified a sustained market move when denying Dancing Gemini in a thrilling finish to the May 17 Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury Racecourse.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained 4-year-old was as big as 18-1 Saturday morning, but was backed into a starting price of 17-2.
Dancing Gemini, who had handily defeated Lead Artist in last month's bet365 Mile (G2) at Sandown, was a narrowly beaten second, ahead of Rosallion in third and Notable Speech in fourth.
Lead Artist had been ridden by Kieran Shoemark on all eight of his previous starts, but the fallout of his Two Thousand Guineas (G1) defeat on Field of Gold—owned like Lead Artist by Juddmonte—saw him lose his role as first-choice rider for the Gosdens and resulted in Oisin Murphy being booked for the Lockinge.
Murphy, who would otherwise have likely ridden Lockinge seventh Tamfana, told ITV Racing: "He has an amazing temperament, but was really flat out 500 meters from home. The lads were really confident and the market told.
"I could've been a little more aggressive as he stays further, and had he not won, I'd have gone away thinking that."
It was a second Lockinge win in a row for the Gosdens after Audience's strike last year. Lead Artist was cut to 6-1 (from 33) by Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power for the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), at Royal Ascot next month.
The Lockinge was the first group 1 win for Lead Artist.
"He's got a great deal of talent, but got stuck in the mud at Sandown last time," John Gosden said of the son of Dubawi. "He got a peach of a ride from Oisin. I thought we'd be in the first three, but not necessarily win it.
"The Queen Anne is the next obvious step, but we hope the weather doesn't get wet. He's got so much natural speed and the stiff mile of Ascot will suit him best."
Trainer Roger Teal was left to rue the recent dry weather with Dancing Gemini after his neck defeat.
Teal said: "He's run a cracker, but that ground was rattling fast. I asked the clerk of the course on Friday if he'd put a bit of water on it Friday but he wasn't playing ball.
"That's quicker ground than he's ever been on, but we've only gone down a neck. We don't duck and dive and will go to Ascot next. He went down on his sword and is a group 1 winner waiting to happen."
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