Cape of Good Hope made it fourth time lucky at Royal Ascot when winning Saturday's Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes, at the same time winning the inaugural Global Sprint Challenge before the Japanese legs have even started.
The seven-year-old now has 54 points putting him well clear of his nearest pursuers, Chineur and Fastnet Rock, who both have 10 points.
Cape Of Good Hope won the second leg, the Timbercorp Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on February 5 having finished third in the first leg, the TEAC Lightning Stakes at Flemington a fortnight earlier. He finished fourth in Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot at York.
Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations at Ascot Racecourse, said: "Cape Of Good Hope embodies everything the Global Sprint Challenge concept is all about and this success further proves that racing is becoming truly international at the highest level.
"Guy Carstairs and his team embraced the Series from the start and their ambition has been rewarded with victory. Whatever happens in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan they will be picking up the trophy.
"The parties involved in the Series will now put their heads together to consider developments and incentives over and above the travel allowances and we be looking into sponsorship possibilities."
Stephen Allanson, Director of Racing Operations for Racing Victoria, said: "We're pretty excited that a horse who travelled to two countries and is committed to going to a third has an unassailable lead in the Challenge.
"His owners and trainer have been great ambassadors in both legs and will carry the challenge through to being a success in Japan. His owner Guy Carstairs has told me he is excited to be travelling to race meetings across the world as part of his prize and I am already booking his trip to
the Melbourne Cup.
"Next year we hope the Global Sprint Challenge will be bigger and better after its inaugural year."
Connections of runner-up Galeota were thrilled by the effort of three-year-old to finish a head second to the battle-hardened Cape Of Good Hope in a great climax to the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Assistant trainer Richard Hannon Jr said: "It was a monumental performance from a three-year-old and he had them all beat from the five and a half marker. He will get better and better as he gets older and I think he's a champion sprinter in the making.
"We've got three to four years of top-class sprinting to look forward to with him and he's the sort of horse that might take you all over the world."
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