Mike de Kock’s Shea Shea was the 11-4 favourite after smashing the Meydan track record in the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night in March, and appeared to have claimed victory when coming through on the far side of the track.

However, 8-1 shot Sole Power was produced to perfection by Johnny Murtagh, absolutely blitzing through the final furlong and getting up right on the line on the near side of the track.

As the pair were so far apart, the result went to a photo finish, but the judge confirmed the Irish runner the victor by a neck.

Pearl Secret made good late headway to finish third.

Murtagh said: ``Forty winners at Royal Ascot, I'm really proud of it.

“As a jockey this is where you want to be performing. It makes the Mondays and the Fridays a lot easier when you come to a meeting like this and ride great horses for good people. I’vejust been one of the lucky ones.

“Eddie (Lynam) told me to ride him like I normally ride him and to ride him like I owned him.

“He’s got a great turn of foot if you can just conserve his energy. He’s very willing and if he gets going too early he runs out of steam. You’ve got to time it to the best.

“I didn’t see Shea Shea but I knew I’d hit the line well.”

Lynam said: ``He's not always been lucky, but he's always been good.

“He’s won a Palace House, a Temple and the Nunthorpe at 100-1. He’s one of the proper ones.”