He was the one punters were most interested in and Dylan Thomas justified the faith of the betting public in the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes.
Nine to four in the morning into a returned 13/8 favourite, Kieren Fallon tracked stable companion Ace before challenging and leading briefly from the two furlong pole.
However Ouija Board, who had travelled through the race best of all, took over a furlong and a half out under Jamie Spencer and for a few seconds looked a likely victor.
But Dylan Thomas is undoubtedly very tough and genuine and with his ears flat back on his head he rallied in determined fashion to lead again close home, passing the post a neck to the good.
Alexander Goldrun could never really get to grips with the principals, 2 1/2L back in third, Mustameet was much the same 1 1/2L away in fourth with the pacesetting Ace 2 1/2L in arrears.
Fallon commented afterwards, 'he is only three so he has done well to battle back. He is tough and a stronger pace would have suited better, it's a pity Ace couldn't have carried me there for a bit longer.
'He likes top of the ground and it was just too soft for him at York last time. He is a joy to ride.' Following on from Oratorio 12 months ago it was a second success in the race for Fallon.
Dylan Thomas was joining the big names of Giant's Causeway, High Chaparral and Oratorio as previous Aidan O'Brien trained winners of the 1m 2f showpiece.
O'Brien was a relieved man with his mind very much on the future. He said, 'this is a hugely prestigious race to a stallion as the best horses run here.
'We were obviously worried going back to a mile and two but he's done it.' Dylan Thomas is generally quoted at around the 8/1 mark for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe now.
Obviously the Breeders Cup could also be on his agenda. Both the Alexander Goldrun and Ouija Board teams will adapt a wait and see policy as regards future plans.
It is six years since the Iron Horse,' Giant's Causeway triumphed in the Champion Stakes, and one of his son's, Frost Giant earlier initiated a Ballydoyle brace.
On a vastly different surface to the one he encountered today, Frost Giant followed up his course win in last season's Killavullan Stakes by landing another Group 3 in the shape of the Kilternan Stakes.
Fallon's mount held off Cougar Bay by a head after leading over a furlong and a half out. This was his first start since finishing near the rear in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
He missed the break on that occasion and O'Brien also reported that he came back from there, 'very wrong behind.' The trainer said too, 'he will get better and better.'
It is all happening for Kieren Fallon at the moment, his dog, Bar The Devil is favourite for the Irish Greyhound Derby Final tonight and he rides Hurricane Run at Longchamp tomorrow.
The Co. Clare native completed an approximate 118/1 treble in the concluding h'cap on Emmpat for Charlie Swan.
Jamie Spencer, rider of Ouija Board, will no doubt have been very disappointed to lose out so narrowly but it wasn't all doom and gloom for the British champion who did ride a winner in the highest grade.
In a gripping finish to the Group 1 Matron Stakes, the brilliantly progressive Red Evie gained her seventh win in succession, just holding off the flying-finish of Peeress by the minimum margin.
Race For The Stars had set the gallop here but it was those coming from behind that dominated, Spencer quickening to lead on Red Evie a furlong out.
Peeress, sixth early in the straight cut loose inside the final furlong but she couldn't quite peg back the winner. Flashy Wings also ran on well to be three parts of a length back in third.
Victorious part-owner Terry Neill described the Intikhab 3yo, who has progressed from handicapping to the top level, as by far the best flat horse he has owned.
The Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket was mentioned as an objective now for the Michael Bell-trained filly. Jamie Spencer said, 'she is very good and she picked up really well.'
Sire of Frost Giant, Giant's Causeway was responsible for another winner in the shape of King Of Tory. This fellow took the premier h'cap for Eddie Lynam and Chris Hayes.
Well-bought out of Dermot Weld's for E18,000 at last year's Goffs Autumn Sales, the Irish Cambridgeshire third picked up well to lead 100 yards from the finish for a comfortable 1 1/4L success.
Chivalrous was backed from 7/4 into 11/8 to give Ballydoyle a treble on the afternoon but he could only manage third behind the John Oxx-trained, Michael Kinane-ridden, Angelonmyshoulder.
This juvenile came on sufficiently from a promising debut second behind Capital Exposure over the course and distance twenty days ago to capture the colts and geldings maiden.
Fly Free had the perfect draw in stall one for her debut in the opener but it would hardly have mattered which box she came out of as she ran out an impressive 4 1/2L victor.
After breaking well Pat Smullen was always to the fore on the Michael Smurfit-owned daughter of Halling, she led before the straight, and the matter was settled as she was ridden clear from well over a furlong out.
The Dermot Weld-trained 5/1 shot was an E85,000 purchase at the Goffs Million Sale and she is engaged in both the big Sales Races at the Curragh on Tuesday week.
Nick's Nikita made it three out of four, in the fillies handicap. She may have been 12/1 but that didn't stop her from comfortably scoring by 1 3/4L.
After rearing up leaving the stalls and being slowly into her stride, she made ground into the straight, led a furlong out, going on in the hands of Johnny Murtagh for Michael Halford.
