BY NICHOLAS GODFREY 4:00 PM 21 JUN 2012

Report: Royal Ascot, Thursday

Gold Cup (Group 1) 2m4f, 4yo+

RELIEF etched across his face in an ear-to-ear grin, Ascot’s favourite son Frankie Dettori claimed the Gold Cup in a driving finish as Colour Vision came off best from Opinion Poll in a Godolphin one-two.

Saddler’s Rock took third place behind the 6-1 winner, but odds-on favourite Fame And Glory was a bitter disappointment, coming home down the field as if something was amiss.

Godolphin followers will be more than aware of the significance of the result of the Royal Ascot showpiece given their woeful form in Europe so far this season and the recent uncertainty over Dettori’s position as top dog at Sheikh Mohammed’s team, where he has always been the undisputed number one.

On board the runner-up, and seemingly outridden at the finish, was none other than Mickael Barzalona, the new kid of the block whose recruitment by Godolphin had prompted suggestions – firmly rebutted by Dettori – that the Italian was on the verge of retirement.

Formerly trained by Mark Johnston, Colour Vision is now with Godolphin’s long-term trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, who has also seen his position come under persistent discussion with the rise of colleague Mahmood Al Zarooni, who trained Opinion Poll.

As if that wasn’t enough, the result wasn’t confirmed until after a stewards’ inquiry as Dettori’s mount bumped his rival inside the final furlong.

The ebullient jockey, though, seemed pretty confident he would keep the race as he performed his trademark flying dismount before even talking to the stewards, and soon after Colour Vision’s half-length victory was confirmed.

Racingpost.