The £400,000 Tattersalls Houghton Sales Stakes, the richest juvenile race in Europe, provided a dramatic affair with the first prize eventually going the way of the hot favourite Mozart.
Halland refused to enter the stalls and when they opened backers of the well-backed second-favourite Eminence groaned with disbelief as he walked out and refused to race.
It looked as if there was going to be another shock at the business end of the race when the Norwegian-trained Pretty Girl held a definite advantage entering the final furlong.
But Michael Kinane brought Mozart with a strong run up the centre of the course to lead inside the last 150 yards to win by a length from Pretty Girl, who raced up the far rail, with Count Dubois a head away in third.
Mozart is now best-priced at 20-1 with William Hill for next year`s Sagitta 2000 Guineas and Aidan O`Brien, who trains the Danehill colt for Michael Tabor and Mrs John Magnier, said: 'He had a very bad draw and it is a long time since he had run, but Michael was lovely and kind on him.
'He will definitely stay a mile next year and he is a very smart horse.
'It was the plan to give him a run before the Dewhurst for which he is a possible, but Hemmingway is also a possible too so we will have to see.'
Pretty Girl`s owner Nagell Rash-Erichsan said: 'That was the most enjoyable race to watch. I would like to think she would be able to come back for the 1000 Guineas next year.'
