The first real battle of the generations this season conjured up a wonderful finish, as Ulysses edged out his younger adversary Barney Roy to land the Group 1 Coral Eclipse.
Not long after the start there was drama as race favourite and Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher was tightened up on the inside and suffered interference.
Ballydoyle second-string Taj Mahal led the field into the straight. Decorated Knight and Eminent offered strong bids into the final two furlongs with Barney Roy and the strong-travelling Ulysses making good headway from further back.
Still on the bridle a furlong and a half out, Jim Crowley pushed the button on Ulysses and he hit the front inside the furlong.
Royal Ascot-winner Barney Roy battled on his inner and was closing as the line loomed.
The duo hit the line virtually together but the Sir Michael Stoute charge got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
“I learnt a lot of him last time and it was great to get back on him today,” reflected Crowley.
“The race went really well, he just gets to the front and he just thought he did enough a little bit. Fair play to the second he came back at us.
“You never want to be too presumptuous and think you’ve got it but it was a great feeling when they called it out.”
The Newmarket handler makes it a sixth win in the Group 1 contest over a mile and a quarter. His first came with Opera House in 1993.
Stoute said: “He’s very brave an admirable horse so consistent.
“The only time he’s had a blip was in the Derby and he got turned over twice so he had no chance in that.”
He’s very brave an admirable horse
Earlier in the afternoon, the Charlie Hills-trained Battaash made all the running to land the Group 3 Coral Charge.
In the second colours of Sheikh Hamdam Al Makhtoum, the three-year-old was quickly away in the hands of Dane O’Neill on the far side rail.
He kicked clear of his rivals inside the final furlong to win comprehensively by three and a quarter lengths from runner-up Mirza.
