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Kool Kompany turned Royal Ascot form on its head as he recorded a fourth win from five starts in the GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.
Richard Hannon's youngster had been well beaten in the Coventry Stakes, in which Cappella Sansevero and War Envoy had finished some way in front of him, but a return to forcing tactics in this Group Two contest made all the difference.
Fran Berry had the 6-1 shot smartly out of the gates to grab the stands rail and dictate matters, and he produced a fine turn of foot from the front to see off f ellow British-trained raider Ahlan Emarati, from Peter Chapple-Hyam's stable, by two lengths.
Cappella Sansevero (6-4 favourite) and War Envoy were big disappointments in the six-furlong event.
Berry said: "He's had the one disappointing run, but I spoke to Richard Hannon and he said you could forget the Coventry as he ran too free.
"The only anxious moment I had was in the stalls - I was just hoping he'd jump well. He wasn't stopping at the line and I don't see why he wouldn't get seven furlongs."
Kool Kompany was introduced at 25-1 for the Qipco 2000 Guineas with RaceBets.
Tommy Stack's juvenile Accepted made a most accomplished racecourse debut in the Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises EBF Maiden.
The chestnut son of Approve always held a prominent position but looked there for the taking once 11-10 favourite Cape Clear Island got in the clear a furlong and a half from home.
Wayne Lordan's partner (13-2) responded manfully under pressure and fought back along the near-side rail to claim a short-head verdict, while Fit For The Job was pinched for room on two occasions but nonetheless ran an eyecatching race in third.
Fozzy Stack, son and assistant to the County Tipperary handler, said: "He's a nice horse and has always worked well. We've always thought a bit of him. He was a bit keen and didn't have as much cover as we'd have liked. He could come back here for the Anglesey and maybe the Gimcrack (at York)."