Classy Millenary a Cup cracker
The seven-year-old became the oldest winner in the 77-year history of the race and took his total prize-money tally over the £700,000 mark as he accelerated away from the furlong pole to beat Alcazar by an easy three lengths.
Richard Quinn's mount, a 9-2 chance, travelled easily throughout the race as Dutch Gold and Jelani disputed the early pace.
And when his rider switched him to challenge Jelani and Alcazar just over a furlong out, the response was immediate as he quickly pulled clear without having to be asked a serious question.
Alcazar (7-1) was comfortably best of the rest as he finished a further four lengths clear of a back-to-form Jelani (16-1).
Mr Dinos caught the eye staying on from the rear on his seasonal debut to take fourth spot when probably still in need of the run.
It could well be Mr Dinos who proves the biggest threat to Millenary in their next race as both are set to run in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next month.
Quinn, who also rode Millenary when he won the 2000 St Leger, described the success as "smooth all the way".
"He is a class horse and he showed that today," said the Scot.
Millenary has yet to prove his stamina over the two and a half miles of the Gold Cup trip, having faded badly when third in the two-mile Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on his previous outing.
But Quinn is confident that the distance will be no problem.
"We'd have to give him a chance by holding him up as much as possible, but he isn't a complicated horse and he travels so well," he said.
"When the pace quickens up you don't have to ask him he motivates himself.
"The ground was atrocious at Ascot and you can forget that run. He lost his action as soon as he came off the bridle.
"But on decent ground, he will always be a tough horse to beat."
Trainer John Dunlop was absent, but his travelling head lad Gary Hatfield confirmed that the Gold Cup was the most likely plan for the winner.
Meanwhile, Day Flight emerged as a leading contender for Classic honours with a breathtaking victory in the Michael Seely Memorial Glasgow Stakes at York today.
However, it appears unlikely that the John Gosden-trained colt will be heading for the Vodafone Derby as owner Khalid Abdullah is set to rely on leading ante-post fancy American Post at Epsom on June 5 instead.
There were only four runners in yesterday's Listed contest and Richard Hughes sent Day Flight to the front early in the straight off a steady pace.
He gave him a couple of sharp reminders and the son of Sadler's Wells then strode readily clear to score by fully 20 lengths from Mac Regal, with Go For Gold four lengths back in third.
Quito warmed up for his Group One bid in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday by spreadeagling his rivals in the Langleys Solicitors Rated Stakes.
Tony Culhane held David Chapman's charge up in mid-division in the competitive six-furlong handicap, as firstly Chappel Cresent and then Tom Tun made the running.
Quito (12-1) made smooth headway to challenge at the furlong pole and quickened in great style to settle the issue in a matter of strides, stretching three lengths clear of Tom Tun at the line.
Eddie Ahern, was banned for five days (May 24-28) for using his whip with excessive frequency on Absolutelythebest in the Swisscom Eurospot Stakes.
