Ulysses© Photo Healy Racing
The Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh is an option for Ulysses after he gunned down Deauville in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.
Last seen finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, he looks the stereotypical older horse with which Sir Michael Stoute does so well.
Beautifully bred, by champion sire Galileo out of an Oaks winner in Light Shift, he was a Group Three winner last season but seems set to be a player in all the major prizes this season.
Ryan Moore tried to make all on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Deauville and having fended off the challenge of Royal Artillery, probably felt he would go on to win, but Andrea Atzeni cruised by under hands and heels to win by a length at 3-1, with 11-4 favourite My Dream Boat getting going too late in third.
Atzeni said: "He travelled nicely and settled which was the most important thing.
"The ground is pretty slow out there, but he wouldn't want it any slower than that. He picked up well when I wanted him to.
"He's a different horse this year, much stronger and mentally more mature, he's a horse with a bright future.
"I'd say 10 furlongs is his trip, but he hit the line quite strong."
Alan Cooper, racing manager to winning owners Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, said: "He did that very smoothly and he picked up gently to do it well.
"The thought at the moment is to stay at 10 furlongs rather than 12 and that is why he has entries in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
"We'll see what Sir Michael would like to do, as he is the boss.
"The ground was a little bit slower than ideal, but he handled it well."
He added: "Let's get through May and June and then think about July (Eclipse), but he's a course and distance winner so why not think about it?"
