IT has been a splendid year for Godolphin and further success came the team’s way when Old Persian landed the Group 2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, holding the sustained challenge of stable companion Cross Counter, with Aidan O’Brien’s Kew Gardens keeping on well in third.

The market had it slightly wrong here, with the winner starting at 7/1 and the runner-up 6/4 favourite following his easy Goodwood victory over Derby second Dee Ex Bee.