ON official ratings there was very little between the whole field in the Group 2 Dubai Challenge Stakes.

It saw the frustrating Belardo, winner of last year’s Dewhurst, trying to recover his best form, while old rivals Cable Bay and Breton Rock were renewing rivalry in familiar surroundings.

In the end, after Coulsty had made much of the running, it was Charlie Hills’ Cable Bay (8/1), runner-up last year, and Frankie Dettori who hit the front as they met the rising ground and held Breton Rock by a head.

Belardo, none too well away, made plenty of late ground to claim the minor berth.

“He’s had a really busy season but he has a great temperament and a really strong constitution, as well, because he was running over six furlongs at Ascot only last weekend,” Hills said of Cable Bay a son of Invincible Spirit. “He’ll go to stud next year and has every chance of making a good stallion.”

It has been an excellent campaign for the Lambourn trainer, with a sprinkling of group race successes including the hat-trick reeled off by Sheikh Hamdan’s sprinter Muhaarar, who goes for the Sprint on Champions Day at Ascot next week.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with him,” Hills commented. “We’ve given him a chance to get over things with four races coming in fairly quick succession.

“I don’t think he’ll go to the Breeders’ Cup after Ascot because he really doesn’t owe us anything but Sheikh Hamdan will make the final decision.”

Dettori reported that Golden Horn had come out of the Arc very well and the Breeders’ Cup was still very much on the agenda.

The day became even better for Moore when Queen Elizabeth’s Mustard, trained by Stoute, came with a long, raking run to take the Old Rowley Cup over a mile and a half at 8/1.