Persian Punch had to call on all his renowned battling qualities to wrest the Lady O Goodwood Cup from current holder Jardines Lookout at the Sussex track.

It could have been a scene from a boxing film where the heroic former champ gets up off the floor to slug it out and regain his title.

Despite being headed by his four-year-younger rival two furlongs out, the ten-year-old bravely fought back under Martin Dwyer before the line came in time for him to record a short-head verdict.

And come in time it did for - almost unbelievably - the heart-stopping excitement continued as the second launched yet another attack in the shadow of the post in a bid to keep his crown.

In the end it was the veteran who was led into the winner's spot and the reception Persian Punch received could not have been warmer as he was cheered to the echo by his adoring fans.

There in the melee to greet the oldest winner of the race was owner Jeff Smith, who was almost lost for words.

"It's not often I'm speechless," said the emotional Smith. "He really is a war horse. It's unreal, extraordinary, we have run out of superlatives for him."

Majestic Missile continued his rapid ascent up the racing ladder with an impressive victory in the Betfair Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

The colt's trainer, William Haggas, is now considering an end-of-season tilt at the valuable French sprint, the Prix de l'Abbaye, for his charge.

Haggas sent out another speedy two-year-old, Superstar Leo, to finish second to Namid in the race in 2000.

However, Majestic Missile will not be able to line up in the valuable Nunthorpe Stakes as he was not put in the York contest and there is no supplementary entry stage.

The winner put his Goodwood rivals to the sword with an impressive burst of acceleration inside the closing stages.

Michael Hills, standing in for the suspended Kieren Fallon, always seemed to be travelling better than any of his rivals aboard the 9-4 favourite.

And once a gap opened, the combination swept through to score by a length and three-quarters from Nights Cross.

Future plans for the colt place connections in something of a quandary, with Haggas bemoaning a lack of opportunities for out-and-out speedsters at a juvenile level.

"It's exactly the same sort of problem I had with Superstar Leo," he said. "There are just no suitable five-furlong races in August so if we bypass the Gimcrack we shall probably go for the Flying Childers (Stakes at Doncaster in September).

"My wife just asked me about the Abbaye, as well. He is a very fast horse and at one time I wondered if he was so fast that he might burn himself out."