The tears of joy may have been held back, but the raw emotion was still clear for all to see as Galileo Gold delivered Hugo Palmer a landmark first British Classic success in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Although Palmer was absent on his honeymoon when Galileo Gold won last year's Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, the Newmarket handler held a prime viewing position on this occasion as the son Paco Boy repaid the faith long shown in him under a masterful ride by Frankie Dettori.
Having enjoyed a resurgent season last year, Dettori showed he is still riding at the top of his game after using all of his tactical awareness to position the 14-1 shot close to the early pace set by First Selection in the Group One contest.
As the contest began to unravel, it soon became evident that odds-on favourite Air Force Blue would not be giving his trainer Aidan O'Brien a record eighth win in the race as Ryan Moore was shoving his mount along over two furlongs out before trailing home second last.
At the other end of the field, Dettori played his hand aboard the Al Shaqab Racing-owned Galileo Gold, making a crucial switch from the centre of the track to bag the stands side rail and take up a lead he was to hold onto until the finish.
While Massaat tried to muster a late charge, it was an effort that was to amount to little as Galileo Gold showed no signs of stopping, scoring by a length and a half to give Dettori his third victory in the race, 20 years on from his first aboard Mark Of Esteem.
Palmer said: "Frankie was so alert, he said nothing had been coming from behind and that if nothing took us on, he would do it himself and he did.
"There were no hard luck stories, for us anyway. It was a masterful ride.
"He had a very willing partner and I feel so lucky to have him.
"When you come to a race like this you have to have confidence, if not you may as well go somewhere else. If I was going to come here, I was going to believe in it.
"I've never believed in a horse quite like I believe in this one.
"I don't know what makes him different, he just keeps getting better. He's quirky, we have to work with him, not against him, but he's rewarded us.
"The original plan was to go to the French Guineas as often you get very fast ground here.
"Like Muhammed Ali saying 'I'm the greatest', a good horse believes that. Anyone who listened to me talk about the horse over the last three weeks got a sense of the belief building in the yard."
Despite being introduced at 8-1 for the Investec Derby by William Hill, and Paddy Power trimming him into 12-1 from 33-1 for the same race along with introducing him as 2-1 favourite for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, Palmer was undecided as to what Galileo Gold's next target might be.
He added: "It looked like he stayed a mile best of those he beat today, but I don't think any of those were prominent in the Derby market.
"I don't know about the Derby. He's out of a mare by Galileo, but Paco Boy was a miler. However, he's from the family of Montjeu so I don't know.
"He's got an entry in the French Derby and the St James's Palace and Irish Guineas. We'll let the dust settle - I'll probably feel human again by Wednesday.
"They always say that the Guineas is the best Derby trial."
As for Owen Burrows, trainer of runner-up Massaat, he believes that the son of Teofilo will get further in time.
He said: "I'm very pleased, he's run a blinder, there are no excuses.
"It would just be nice to get rid of seconditis as I've had seven out of 10 now, but I can't be disappointed with second in a Guineas.
"Paul (Hanagan) said he'll get a mile and a quarter, but we'll have a chat with the team and make a plan for the rest of the season.
"Two out he thought it would take a good one to pass him, but one did."
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