Intrinsic, who missed the cut for the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, put the record straight when he sprinted to victory in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.
Punters threw their support behind Muthmir, backing him into 5-2 favourite in the 24-horse field, but the Robert Cowell-trained Intrinsic (6-1) got the job done.
He beat Ninjago and Alben Star with the favourite unplaced in the prestigious handicap.
All Cowell’s notable performers to date have been sprinters, such as Group One winners Prohibit and Jwala, and he believes Intrinsic can go on to better things.
“It’s come together, but it’s always very difficult to win a huge handicap like this,” Cowell said.
“He’s got all the attributes. He’s got an amazing pedigree and that will stand him in good stead. I think he could go all the way.
“It will be stakes races from now on and we’ll explore Listed and Group Threes now.
“I did give him an entry later on in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. There are plenty of options and it’s a nice problem to have.”
Rival trainer John Gosden no longer has The Fugue to depend on but has plenty of fire power as shown by Sultanina’s win in the Group One Nassau Stakes.
It was a top race there for the taking and Venus De Milo and then French filly and 7-4 favourite Narniyn played their hand, the latter weaving up the inside rail under Christophe Soumillon.
Sultanina (11-2) had lost her unbeaten record to stablemate Pomology in the Lancashire Oaks, but handled a two-furlong (400m) drop in distance with aplomb as she stormed down the outside and came ahead by a length and a half.
Gosden, who has won the Nassau, Sussex Stakes and King George over the past week, said it was a special win.
“The Fugue would have come here and this filly is what you could call a supersub,” he said.
“We’re going to enter her on Tuesday in the fillies’ and mares’ race on Champions Day in October.”
