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City Style clung on for victory in the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York to give Godolphin and jockey Silvestre de Sousa the middle leg of a treble that also included Ahzeemah in the Lonsdale Cup.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The Charlie Appleby-trained 9-1 chance moved powerfully on the heels of the leaders in the early exchanges of the Group Three contest but had to be pushed along by the Brazilian rider shortly after straightening up for home.
As the pacesetting Archbishop faltered, City Style found himself in front and soon opened up a commanding lead, but just when it seemed victory was assured, Danadana began to find his feet. City Style held on by a neck.
Sir Michael Stoute's Pavlosk was the heavily supported 6-4 favourite, but she proved disappointing in fourth.
De Sousa said: "He's a bit tricky, but I'm delighted he got his head in front. At one point he was going nowhere, but I gave him a belt and he just took off. I got to the front a bit soon and he got a bit lonely, but job done.
"We thought now he's getting older he might appreciate a bit of give in the ground and he did, for sure."
City Style was notably carrying a far longer coat than is normally the case for horses in the middle of summer.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "He's spent all of his life travelling. He started off in America and since he's been with us he's been in Europe, he's been in Dubai and he's been in Singapore. He spends his life on an plane and he's not sure if it's winter or summer, but it doesn't affect him, as you could see today.
"I thought Danadana would probably nail us, but this horse was courageous in the finish. He had a bad incident with the stalls in Singapore once and when he backed out today I was a bit worried, but he went in eventually.
"He's a very good horse on his day and the only race I can think of for him now would be the Prix Dollar at Longchamp (October 5). The team is in very good form at the moment."
The Godolphin hat-trick was completed as Saeed bin Suroor's Golden Town (4-1) proved much too good for his opponents in the Sky Bet Mobile Convivial Maiden Stakes.
