Cercene gave jockey Gary Carroll and trainer Joseph Murphy a day to remember when bravely holding off French hotpot Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Billed as a clash between French 1,000 Guineas winner Zarigana and Owen Burrows' supplemented Falakeyah, it was the Irish outsider who stole the show to become the race's longest-priced winner at 33-1.
Falakeyah's challenge faded tamely having raced keenly, but 6-4 favourite Zarigana looked prime to pounce in hands of Mickael Barzalona and in fact looked to briefly have passed Cercene.
However, Irish 1,000 third Cercene was not to be denied and proved her Curragh performance was no fluke as she battled back to secure a half-length verdict.
Amiloc obliged favourite-backers to remain unbeaten and give Ralph Beckett his first victory at this year's Royal Ascot courtesy of the King Edward VII Stakes.
An impressive winner of Goodwood's Cocked Hat Stakes, the fact the son of Postponed is a gelding meant he had to bypass the Derby at Epsom for the race often referred to as the 'Ascot Derby'.
Ryan Moore tried to slip the field on eventual third Galveston, but Rossa Ryan aboard the 11-8 market leader never let that duo too far out of his sights and after sending Amiloc to the front with a furlong to run, had enough in reserve to hold off Johnny Murtagh's Zahraan by three-quarters of a length.
Venetian Sun backed up Karl Burke's confidence in her ability with a dominant display in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Ante-post favourite in the build up to the race following an impressive winning debut at Carlisle, she was sent off at 7-1 in the end with Burke having drawn a blank with several other fancied juvenile runners this week.
She also had to overcome what looked a disadvantageous draw in stall one under Clifford Lee, yet despite having no cover, she was in front with a furlong to run and pulled a length and a half clear of Awaken and Balantina.
Harry Eustace's fine Royal Ascot continued when Time For Sandals blazed her way to Commonwealth Cup glory.
The Newmarket handler struck for the very first time in Group One company with Docklands in the Queen Anne Stakes and wasted little time doubling that tally with a filly who was registering just her second career victory - and first since her debut last year.
Sent off at 25-1 in the hands of Richard Kingscote, she cruised to the front on the far side with a furlong to run and showed great resolve to edge out Arizona Blaze by a neck with the supplemented Rayevka half a length further back in third.
Ethical Diamond made it a momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins when powering down the outside to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Mullins and his wife Jackie had taken part in the royal procession before racing and his dual-purpose performer had no trouble in justifying 3-1 favouritism.
Fourth last year, he was 2lb higher having also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham - but the result barely looked in doubt and he came home two lengths clear of Mutaawid and Naqeeb.
Ed Walker's profitable season continued when Never Let Go (22-1) pounced late to win the Sandringham Stakes.
Walker has enjoyed a string of Group-race successes this season but the victory will have meant plenty to the man on top, Kieran Shoemark, who has endured a trying time this season with the defeat of Field Of Gold in the 2000 Guineas.
Low numbers once again dominated on the straight track, after three days of high numbers being favoured, with Never Let Go beating Cajole - trained by the Gosdens - by a length.
The King and Queen were out of luck with their runner, Purple Rainbow, who was handy early but faded.
More follows.
