Byron foils Grand gamble
In fact, Byron was confirming the form of the pair's last outing where the David Loder-trained colt had finished a neck in front of his rival only for the stewards to reverse the placings after interference between them.
And Loder admitted that he had been shocked to see the price of his charge, given the recent formlines on offer.
Byron's rider Jamie Spencer sent the winner into the lead over a furlong out and despite the colt wandering across the course when alone in front, he had enough in hand to take the Group Two contest.
Grand Reward took some time to get going when asked to quicken up by Mick Kinane but was doing his best work at the finish and stayed on late to pip Tahreeb for second by a neck.
"I couldn't believe the price especially as he has been doing some really good work a home since that last run," said Loder.
"I think hat he probably will get further although I am not sure and I would like to think that a mile will be no problem next year.
"He could go for the Middle Park Stakes although we might have something else for that race so I will really need to go home and talk to Sheikh Mohammed about it."
But the Middle Park will be the aim for the runner-up, who pleased connections with his efforts.
"York was a mess for him and we wanted to use this race as a stepping stone for the Middle Park," said O'Brien.
"Mick made sure that he had a good experience today, which was important, and I think he ran a lovely race."
Coral eased the runner-up right out to 25-1 in their 2000 Guineas betting (only 14s with William Hill), while the winner can be backed at 33-1 with Hills and Victor Chandler.
Back on a better racing surface, Trade Fair bounced back to form with a clear-cut success in the seven-furlong Dubai Duty Free Cup.
Punters struck this time as the winner, disappointing on soft ground in the Sussex Stakes on his latest start, was backed down to 1-4 in the betting ring before the start of the Listed contest.
And the result never looked in doubt with jockey Richard Hughes always sat in the cruise position aboard Roger Charlton's charge.
Trade Fair accelerated into the lead over a furlong out and quickened well clear of his rivals to beat Lago d'Orta by three lengths.
"It's hard to know what to say about his trip now," Charlton said as he watched the colt return to the winner's enclosure for a welcome drink on the hot day.
"From his appearance you would have to say that he is a sprinter although on breeding he really wants further.
"If he stays in training next year, which I hope that he will, then we can experiment with them then but I would prefer to keep him to seven furlongs for now and something like the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket would be the obvious race. The pleasing thing is the way he has relaxed out there and done the job well."
