Millenary achieved an apparent mission impossible when gaining a last-gasp success for Goodwood director John Dunlop.

The trainer and the colt's supporters had probably accepted defeat as he laboured at the back well behind the leaders with three furlongs remaining of the Peugeot Gordon Stakes.

But the 9-1 chance, superbly ridden by Richard Quinn, swept past all of the opposition to lead on the line and deny Air Marshall by a short-head in the Group Three contest.

"I didn't think we would win until two strides after the post," said Dunlop. "I have to admit that half way down the hill I thought he was going to run a stinker."

Air Marshall had looked sure to win when striking the front going into the final furlong.

His jockey Johnny Murtagh may have taken things a shade easily in the final few yards, allowing Millenary his chance.

The stewards, however, found nothing untoward with Murtagh's riding.

Millenary now has the Rothmans Royals St Leger as his aim and might have a prep run either in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York or the Michelozzo Stakes at Goodwood.

Backers of Sharp Play were put through the mixer before the gelding emerged victorious in the Bet Direct Summer Handicap.

The 11-2 chance appeared trapped as the race hotted up in the final furlong.

But Darryll Holland threaded him through the eye of the needle to lead close home and pip Prairie Wolf by a short-head.

Sharp Play had been highly-rated as a youngster, once hunting up the subsequent 2000 Guineas winner King Of Kings.

He was also the lead horse for the Johnston stars Fruits Of Love and Lend A Hand (now with Godolphin).

Sharp Play will run in the William Hill Mile on Thursday at Goodwood if he recovers from his exertions. He will have to carry a 7lb penalty taking his weight to 8st 10lb and is offered at 16-1 by the sponsors.

Piccolo Player showed that he had made a whirlwind recovery from a gelding operation when trotting by three lengths in the Capel Cure Sharp Nursery.

Quinn boosted his title challenge as he clinched a double aboard Parisien Style in the Brook Street Handicap.

The 10-1 chance, in the care of second season trainer Nigel Hamilton, stretched clear in the final furlong for a convincing defeat of Elmhurst Boy.