It was on the nod and the photograph showed Excellent Art (15-8) had prevailed by a short head, with a further three and a half lengths back to Dubai Builder.

The time was around six lengths quicker than the opening maiden and William Hill’s 40-1 quote about the winner for the Stan James 2000 Guineas looks more than fair. Paddy Power cut him to 20-1 from 25-1, while the sponsors kept him on the 33-1 mark.

“It was a messy race and he got there a bit soon. He spread a plate and pulled off a shoe, so I guess we got away with it,” said Callaghan.

“He’s a good-actioned horse and he wants riding differently with some cover, while I’m sure he wants further. I’m sure good ground is better for him.”

The trainer may run his winner once more this year and added: “If he does run again it will be in the Dewhurst and not the Middle Park.”

There were plenty of short-priced winners at the two-day meeting but Dixie Belle (50-1) came to the rescue of the bookmakers when making all in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy.

Mick Quinlan’s filly was reluctant to go to post for the Group Three contest but came back so well under Tom Queally that she had a length and a neck to spare over Excusez Moi and Dandy Man.

Wayne Asquith, representing owners Burns Farm Racing, said: “We would have gone for the Listed fillies’ race at Hamilton on Sunday if the ground had been good to form so it was fortuitous that we ended up coming here.

“She’s never had her ground this year but has really come on from her last couple of runs.”

There was a shake-up in the betting for the totesport Cambridgeshire after Pinpoint (7-1) took the John Smith’s Heritage Handicap in a tight finish by three-quarters of a length from Charlie Cool with Formal Decree third.

Walter Swinburn’s winner was cut to 12-1 from 20-1 for the Newmarket race by William Hill and Paddy Power, with VC Bet going 8-1 from 14s. Charlie Cool is 12-1 from 14-1 with Stan James.

“The Cambridgeshire has been the target for both Pinpoint and Fairmile for some time,” said Swinburn.

“However, because of the fast ground in the summer I’ve been protecting Pinpoint by not running him.

“At home he’s a Jekyll and Hyde character. My little daughter can ride him but he has to be trained out of a paddock because he’s a box walker.”

Barry Hills could hardly have his two-year-olds in better form and there was plenty to like about the way Captain Marvellous (20-1) put his rivals to the sword under top weight in the Uplands Racing Nursery.

The colt quickened up stylishly under Michael Hills to hold Oi Vay Joe and Leopard King by half a length and a length and a quarter.

Hills said: “He lost his way after winning at Chester and ran awful when I tried him over seven furlongs. They say always back the top weight in nurseries and he’s done it well. I imagine he could go for the Rockingham Stakes at York.”

Paul Cole returned from the Keeneland Sales in America in time to welcome Thunder Storm Cat (6-1) into the winner’s circle after the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Maiden Stakes.

The Storm Cat colt had a length and a quarter to spare over Longquan under Joe Fanning.

Cole said: “He came among a batch from the Miami breeze-ups but I was worried about the ground. Ideally he wants it quicker.”