Trawlerman produced a stunning performance to lead from pillar to post and win Royal Ascot’s most historic race, the Group One Ascot Gold Cup (3,991m), for in-form father and son training partnership John and Thady Gosden on Thursday.

It was quite some way for jockey William Buick to win his first Gold Cup aged 36, the winner also breaking the track record.

Norway-born Buick, who also rode Wednesday’s feature-race winner Ombudsman for the Gosdens, stood up in the saddle and saluted the crowd, punching the air.

“He is a great horse, only beaten by the great Kyprios last year,” said Buick. “I did not have to put the brakes on once.

“He was on autopilot. I was just a passenger. My first Gold Cup, long time coming, not an easy race to win. I am delighted.”

For the Gosdens, it was their second win in the race since they teamed up, but for John it was his fifth, having trained the legendary Stradivarius to three successive victories from 2018 to 2020.

“[Trawlerman] just goes off. William said ‘he can judge pace better than me’,” said Gosden senior.

“We know he stays. They never got to him, simply outstayed them. He’s part of the furniture, he’s a favourite.

“He ran Kyprios close. It is great to come back to show he’s a proper Cup horse and he is a lovely staying horse for the future.”

The Gosdens’ five winners so far this year are welcome after a disappointing Royal Ascot last year.

“Last year was tricky. We’ve aimed at this [meeting] for months, great when it comes to fulfilment,” he said. “One has to be realistic there are always plenty of banana skins around the corner.”

While Aidan O’Brien’s fancied runner Illinois couldn’t land a blow on Trawlerman, the Irish master had a treble on the card to move to 96 Royal Ascot victories.

He made it three wins from three in the two-year-old Group races this week as the odds-on favourite Charles Darwin prevailed in the opening Norfolk Stakes (1,000m).

Ryan Moore had to battle a bit on Charles Darwin as the race evolved but he found a second wind and raced clear to take the Group Two contest.

“A very special horse. They came to me with two furlongs to go, I asked him a question and he answered it brilliantly,” said Moore.

The legendary duo struck again in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes (2,400m), with Garden of Eden taking the honours, while Moore moved to 90 Royal Ascot wins when he rode O’Brien’s Trinity University to victory in the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes (2,000m) in the penultimate race of the day.