CLIVE Cox has been carrying all before him with his sprinters and added one of the most glittering prizes of all last Saturday as Harry Angel landed the Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

The three-year-old son of Dark Angel, given a fine ride by Adam Kirby, beat last year’s winner Limato by just over a length, with Kevin Ryan’s Brando third.

Hot-favourite Caravaggio finished fourth and therefore lost his unbeaten record, having failed to overcome a moderate start on this occasion.

Harry Angel, 9/2, whose raw pace saw him battling for the lead in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, again raced in the front rank but this time was not drawn into a long battle with Caravaggio’s pacemaker Intelligence Cross. Taking over before the furlong pole, he was never seriously challenged, well though Limato ran on in the closing stages.

With Kevin Ryan’s horses back in form following a lengthy bout of sickness in the stable, Brando performed with great credit and kept on to finish only half a length behind Limato at the line.

Caravaggio, backed down to 10/11 favourite, came next, only a short-head away, but was never truly going the pace after propping in the stalls just before the off and then missing the kick when the gates opened.

At Ascot he had plenty to do in the Commonwealth Cup at halfway but moved through to score impressively and the conclusion must be that he was a shade disappointing here, with only a neck to spare over Intelligence Cross.

Those who pointed out beforehand that he had beaten only members of his own age group in a six-race unbeaten run will have to think again before jumping to conclusions because he beat Harry Angel last time, of course, and Cox’s horse was taking on his elders last week.

Many will say that Caravaggio needs a little further than six furlongs but that should not be taken for granted.

Sheikh Mohammed, who was celebrating his 68th birthday, opted to leave Harry Angel with Cox after purchasing him for Godolphin in time for Royal Ascot.

So far this season, Godolphin’s policy of leaving purchased horses with their original trainers has worked well – Ribchester (Richard Fahey) and Barney Roy (Richard Hannon) are two other Group 1-winning examples.

Cox is a fine trainer of sprinters and was winning the July Cup for the second time after Lethal Force’s triumph in 2013.

“I think he’s become a man and he’s proved that today,” he said of Harry Angel. “It was an achievement to be beaten only three-quarters of a length by Caravaggio at Ascot and I’m pleased we’ve taken his scalp today. It’s a wonderful thing to have a horse like this on our hands and I’m thrilled Sheikh Mohammed kept him with us.”

The logical next target is the Sprint Cup at Haydock and it is hard to find better than 7/4 about Harry Angel following up, with Cox tending to dismiss the idea of a trip to Sydney for the very valuable Everest Stakes.

That could still be a destination for Caravaggio, however.

“We’re not looking to make excuses,” Aidan O’Brien said. “There’s always lots on my mind when we don’t win and he was a little bit lazy. I’d never have a problem running him over five and The Everest is still a definite possibility.”