By Racinguk.com staff
Common consensus was that there had not been enough rain for the mud-lover, but no one could ever say he is anything but consistent.
Limato hit the front a furlong out and looked like collecting but faded inside the final 50 yards as Breton Rock swept down the outside past a bunch of horses. On Betfair, £7 was matched on him in-running at 999-1.
Home Of The Brave was second for consecutive seasons in the Group Two, with Suedois third and Limato only fourth.
David Simcock's seven-year-old was providing Andrea Atzeni with a big-race double after Expert Eye in the Vintage Stakes.
Atzeni said: "I didn't expect this at all. I dropped him out last to pick up the pieces, but he picked them all up.
"I felt they went quick early and then got racing a long way out, which suited me nicely - I knew I was going to win from some way out. I thought the ground would be too quick for him."
Simcock said: "That was special, the owner (John Cook) has been with me from day one so to win a race like this means everything.
"He's given us a lot of satisfaction and every year he wins us a nice race, he's wonderful to have around. It was a nice surprise and from his draw (15) we bit the bullet.
"Did we expect to win? No. Did we expect to pick up the pieces? Yes."
Cook said: "When you buy a horse for £20,000 and you mix it with the big boys and win, it's special."
Hugo Palmer said of the runner-up: "He does seem to be getting better with age and he's done a lot of admirable things, but he's not done enough to be whisked off to stud.
"With a bit of luck and fair wind he might be back for a third crack next year. It was a huge run but we were never going to get a soft lead which was probably the difference. He'll have a nice break now and go for the Breeders' Cup Mile."