Excellent Art stormed from last to first under a masterful ride by Jamie Spencer to capture the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) by a neck at Royal Ascot.
The colt led home an Aidan O'Brien sweep of the top three places, with Duke of Marmalade finishing second, 1 1/4-lengths in front of Astronomer Royal.
Heavy favorite Cockney Rebel, who captured both the Stan James Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas (Ire-I) earlier this season, finished fifth. The Geoff Huffer trainee was making a serious move when he began to drift left across the track. That cost the colt all chance.
Excellent Art was purchased privately over the winter by the Coolmore connections of John Magnier and Michael Tabor and was turned over to O'Brien. In his first start for the new connections, he finished an unlucky fourth to Astronomer Royal in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Fr-I) at Longchamp.
Jamie Spencer kept Excellent Art on the rail, and the pair stayed in the rear of the pack during the early stages of the race. The son of Pivotal continued to hug the rail, and worked his way through the field. The duo collared Duke of Marmalade and jockey Mick Kinane inside the final furlong for the victory.
Excellent Art is out of the Seeking the Gold mare, Obsessive. He was bred in England by Cheveley Park Stud.
