Jumps trainer Richard Phillips put some of the giants of the flat in the shade at sunny Brighton yesterday by landing the richest ever race at the track.

Averted View was a game all-the-way winner of the £26,500 Tote Exacta Virginia Rated Stakes.

The top weight gave Phillips his most important flat prize under a masterful front running ride by Jamie Spencer at rewarding odds of 9-1.

Spencer had the five-year-old smartly out of the stalls in the one mile two furlong contest and she was never headed, staying on stoutly up the hill to score by two lengths Mubkera, a 14-1 shot trained by Arundel handler John Dunlop's son Ed, ran on to snatch second by a short head from the 11-2 chance Celtic Ballet.

Shalamantika, the 3-1 favourite and one of two Sir Michael Stoute runners, finished fourth in a field of 13 which also included representatives from the powerful yards of Mark Johnston and former England and Southampton footballer Mick Channon.

Princess Miletrian, trained just across the road from the Brighton course by Gary Moore, was never in contention.

Averted View, a confirmed front runner, was third on her previous outing in a Listed event at Salisbury.

Phillips revealed: "Jamie Spencer said last time out she was capable of making the jump to group class.

"We were quietly confident she would run a big race, but it was quite a competitive field with a few improving three-year-olds."

Averted View is owned by the Flying Tiger partnership, named after an offshore company of its major shareholder Ian Brown. He also had a share in the brilliant flat filly Petrushka.

Phillips joked: "Mr Brown thinks jump racing is rather inferior, but I suppose if I'd had a share of Petrushka so would I. He's quite used to winning.

"He's been a great suppporter. We met some time ago and he had a share in a less talented horse.

"He gave us the opportunity to buy a nice horse and she is doing rather well for us. I am delighted to have my first Listed winner on the flat. Mr Brown lives in Kuala Lumpar for most of the year, but he comes over in the summer.

"He rather likes going to the better tracks, but I didn't think that would include Brighton."

No decision has been taken yet on where Averted View goes next. Phillips, about to move into a new 55-box yard in Gloucestershire, added: "She will be quite a valuable brood mare now. We'll see how she is.

"She is in the December sales and I think Mister Brown will be open to offers."

Spencer, who has ridden over jumps and won the bumper at this year's Cheltenham Festival, went on to complete a double.

He scored his 60th success of the season on the flat on the 11-4 favourite Tychy in the Phil Partridge and Tony Bloom Classified Stakes.