WITHOUT Parole claimed his fourth victory from as many starts with a clear-cut success in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

John Gosden’s Frankel colt completed his hat-trick in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown last month, but faced a significant step up in class for this Group 1 test, with 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win and Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Romanised among his rivals.

U S Navy Flag cut out much of the running, but his early exertions were starting to take their toll racing inside the final two furlongs and 9/4 favourite Without Parole quickened up to lead in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

Gustav Klimt came from further back and attempted to close the gap, but Without Parole was always doing enough to hold him at bay. French challenger Wootton narrowly beat Tip To Win to third place.

Gosden and Dettori were completing big-race doubles on the day, having earlier teamed up to land the Coventry Stakes with 2/1 favourite Calyx.

Gosden said: "It was a brave performance. He had to commit early and he will have learned a lot. US Navy Flag had gone, and Frankie said, 'I had to go after him - I was frightened he had got three lengths, and in the end I went a bit soon'. Then of course with Aidan [trainer of both US Navy Flag and Gustav Klimt] there is another arrow at your back - there always is another arrow.

"But look, Without Parole is a grand horse. There were no hiding places in that race. It was proper, proper Group 1 pace. I think he is still on the up and still learning. At the moment he has a bigger middle than me, which is not a good thing in a racehorse!

"I think he could stay at a mile or go up. I think he was green on the bend and Frankie was having to say, 'come on old boy, come on old boy'. He's so lazy at home. I've never seen a horse eat and sleep like it, which is a great, great thing in a racehorse. I think he will improve, he'll get sharper and I think he will get a little further too."

Dettori added: "I had to move because Ryan Moore in front is very dangerous and when I got to him, I looked and thought there was over a furlong to go and I’m a sitting duck here.

"He’s a lovely horse – he’s only run four times, but to do what he’s done, he’s got a big future."

"John Gosden and Frankie. What a team! They are unbelievable."

Owner/breeder John Gunther said: "It is a dream come true. In all the 20 years I have been coming to Royal Ascot, my dream was just to have a horse run at Royal Ascot. Then we start in a Group 1 and do it; I don't know what to say.

"This does mean more [than breeding Triple Crown winner Justify] and always will. This was the most important and means everything to me. To be able to mate the mare to Frankel and Juddmonte giving me that nomination even though the mare was unproven. To go through all that and then watch Without Parole being raised as a yearling was so special.

"The mare had not proven herself but, after we bred her to Frankel, she got her Group 1 winner [Tamarkuz] and proved herself. Juddmonte allowing me to bred that mare to Frankel meant everything, believe me, because I love Frankel so much.

"John Gosden and Frankie. What a team! They are unbelievable."