Exaltation picked up a £35,750 first prize for last night's Gallinule Stakes and presented Sheikh Mohammed with a £90,000 Irish Derby headache.
That is the supplementary fee that will be necessary to get Exaltation into the Curragh classic picture and the privilege of again taking on the brilliant Galileo.
The Epsom hero beat Exaltation in the Derrinstown Trial in May but over the same course and distance yesterday, the John Oxx-trained colt overhauled the older horse Jammaal to win the Group Three prize by three-parts of a length.
"I suspect Sheikh Mohammed will pay what is a ferocious price to get the horse into the Derby. Myself and (John) Murtagh will not be chipping in!" said Oxx.
The Godolphin colt, Tobougg, is set to run in the Eclipse, which will allow Exaltation to fly the Dubai flag at the Curragh, and while Galileo is set to dominate the Derby build-up, Oxx is confident Exaltation is improving steadily.
"He has done a good, professional job. He has sharpened up, travelled well in the race and physically, he is thriving. We will have to weigh things up," added Oxx.
The Galileo camp had to settle for third in the Gallinule with Pebble Island but did pick up the other Group Three contest, the Ballycorus Stakes, with King Charlemagne.
"A gorgeous horse," was Aidan O'Brien's verdict on the winner, who will be trained for Goodwood's Sussex Stakes. Tumbleweed Ridge was trying to pick up the Ballycorus pot for the fourth successive year but was a spent force over a furlong out as One Won One went for home.
Mick Kinane had the move covered on King Charlemagne, who cruised into the lead in the last half-furlong to take this seven-furlong prize in impressive fashion.
Sweet Brief's all the way win in the last resulted in the nine riders that finished behind receiving £50 fines for not obeying the starter's instructions. The riders were also severely cautioned after the winner poached a substantial lead at the start and never looked like being caught afterwards.
