The Irish raider lapped up the wet conditions and drove through on the fence, which had been a no-go zone for most of the day, to grab Speediness and win the George Ryder Stakes by a long neck, with leader El Roca holding on for third.

''This is the thing we dream about, it just doesn't happen,'' owner Morgan Cahalan said.

''I have only one other horse in training, a National Hunt horse, that jumps. This horse has won 10 races, three group 1, and we only paid 2000 euros for him as a weanling, took him back to the sales as a yearling, couldn't get a bid and then couldn't find a company to  take him in a breeze-up sale.

''We took him and he has taken care of us since.''

Gordon Lord Byron left Australia's best miler in his wake and searching for excuses. Boban, a three-time group 1 winner at 1600m, simply didn't handle the heavy conditions.

''He didn't quite handle the wet from the 800m to the straight. He found a patch where he was swimming a bit but he finished off quite well,'' Boban's rider Glyn Schofield said.

But favourite Red Tracer was disappointing, jockey Michael Rodd said. ''I had a lovely run and was happy where I was at the 600m but she just didn't finish it off,'' he said.

However, this was a day for the Irish and trainer Tom Hogan, who had come to the races confident of a good showing and said it would be party time after the win.

''In Ireland we don't blow things too much until they happen,'' he said. ''This will be big news back home and we will celebrate tonight.''

Hogan would not have to look too far to find a friend to celebrate with. After the win the Irish were front and centre in the mounting yard, led by a cheering crew from Coolmore Stud.

Hogan paid tribute to his team that had got the raider ready.

''He is a good horse. His form in Hong Kong was good enough to win any race like that,'' he said.

''It has been four months since he had a run and since being here he has not had any serious work partners but ...

I was very happy when I saw him when I arrived and quite confident.

''We’ve had great help here. The facilities have been wonderful. Just quarantine has been a bit long. Thoroughbred racehorses are probably the healthiest animals in the world and they’re still treated like donkeys when it goes to quarantine and departments of agriculture.''

Gordon Lord Byron will head to the first day of The Championships and run in either the T.J. Smith or Doncaster Mile before heading home via Hong Kong and the Champion Mile.

''He has taken us around the world and we would like to win one here, one in Asia and one at home if we could,'' Hogan said.

''He’s won nicely today and hopefully he’ll improve a little from the run.

''[Winning jockey] Craig [Williams] said to me you can go any way you like and you’ll win either.''

Colin Scott is looking forward to the Doncaster with Speediness.

''At least we were the first Australian horse home,'' he said. ''We have always said the handicap would suit him better and he gets some weight relief in the Doncaster.''

El Roca was brave to run third but his jockey Hugh Bowman got it right in his round-up of the race. ''He's all heart and it takes an exceptional three-year-old to win this race,'' Bowman said. ''My guy's gone down less than a length to a world-class horse. He's right on track for the Doncaster.''

But so is Gordon Lord Byron.