Gleneagles gives Aidan O’Brien seventh St James’s Palace Stakes

Dual Guineas hero Gleneagles turned in a dominant performance in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old was a brilliant winner at Newmarket in early May and although he was not as visually impressive in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, he was the 8-15 favourite for his latest Group One test.

Consort, taking a big step up in class following a Listed-race victory at Sandown last month, was sent straight to the lead by Frankie Dettori, closely pursued by Andre Fabre's French 2000 Guineas winner Make Believe.

Ryan Moore positioned Gleneagles in fourth place before asking him to close down the leaders early in the straight and the response was emphatic.

The son of Galileo showed thrilling acceleration to pick up Consort and he passed the post two and a half lengths clear under just hand driving.

Outsider Latharnach came through to beat Consort to the runner-up spot, with Aktabantay fourth and Make Believe a long last of the five runners.

Moore said: “He’s got a very good turn of foot this horse.

“It was a muddling race, a bit messy early and Frankie got his own way in front but he made up three lengths there.

“He’s just a pleasure to ride and I think he’s getting better.

“He wasn’t stopping there, I wasn’t getting serious with him, it was hands and heels, I was delighted with him.

“He’s a proper horse, you want to ride the best horses and he’s about the best of his generation.

“He could get a little further but he has plenty of pace and there’s no real need, I’m sure plans will be made later on.”

Part-owner Michael Tabor said: "He's just done everything we hoped he would, won every once bar one and got disqualified at Longchamp, but he's special.

“There was talk about Epsom (running the Derby), but we weren’t tempted in the slightest.

“We’ll discuss what is next, we have so many options, it’s just exciting to have a horse of this calibre.”

OBrien said: “We’re delighted, obviously, the lads and lasses at home all said he was the best he’d been.

“We trained him hard for Newmarket, were easy on him before the Curragh and they said yesterday this was the best he was.

“He gets warm all the time, that didn’t worry me, he’s a warm-blooded horse but takes everything in his stride.

“He reminds me of Giant’s Causeway, but he’s got more speed than him, he was a grinder while this lad quickens.

“He’s the best in the yard at the minute and the best miler we’ve ever had.

“I’m surprised he won by two and a half lengths as he usually pulls up in front.

“I’m a very small part of a very big team, I watch more than anything now, which makes it easier.”

On immediate plans, O’Brien revealed a mouthwatering clash with Solow is on the cards in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

He said: “If he gets good, fast ground then he’ll go to Goodwood as that was always the plan if he did well today.

“I don’t think 10 furlongs would be a problem if that day does come.”

Earlier Sole Power missed out in his pursuit to become the first horse to win the King’s Stand Stake three times.

Richard Hughes and the 5-2 favourite found themselves held up and the eight-year-old's trademark late burst was not as potent as it has been in the past, meaning he passed the post in fifth.

Goldream clinched victory after a thrilling climax to the race.

Robert Cowell’s sprinter had landed the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on his penultimate start before failing to fire in Haydock’s Temple Stakes and was sent off at 20-1.

Martin Harley settled his mount on the heels of the leaders before asking Goldream to go about his business entering the last of the five furlongs and he galloped all the way to the line to provide Cowell with a second victory in the Group One contest following the success of Prohibit in 2011.

Veteran sprinter Medicean Man looked as though he might cause a 50-1 upset as the line approached, but Goldream got up to beat him by a short head. Muthmir was just a neck away in third, with Pearl Secret fourth.