Oisin Murphy spent some time with Danny O'Brien at Flemington three years ago and on Thursday the Irishman landed his first Royal winner when guiding Benbatl to victory for Godolphin in the Group III Hampton Court Stakes (1m2f).
Fifth in The Derby at Epsom last time out, Benbatl got a perfect run, fifth with cover to the home turn when Murphy took an opening to make his challenge.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Benbatl (9/2) reached the lead inside the final two furlongs and stayed on strongly to hold out Orderofthegarter (10/3 fav), which came from well back around the home turn, by half a length with Mirage Dancer (7/1) three-quarters of a length away third.
The normally reserved Murphy celebrated his first Royal victory over the line.
"I don't celebrate very often, but that one meant the world to me. It builds up in your mind and you're just trying to get it out of the way and the monkey off your back. It's fantastic to do it," Murphy told ITV Racing.
"I'm very fortunate to have a job with Sheikh Fahad and Qatar, but Saeed has been very good to me as well and to reward him with a Royal Ascot winner is fantastic.
"We had the hood off him today and fair play to Saeed and everyone at home, they got him here today in top order and he won with a bit in hand. He travelled like the best horse in the race because he was the best horse in the race. Ten furlongs is his trip, I wouldn't step him up."
For Bin Suroor it was a welcome winner following the controversy of his paper interview where he laid bare his unhappiness with the workings of the Godolphin operation that led to the resignation of chief executive John Ferguson.
He said he feels the son of Dubawi has a bright future.
"When he won first time (at Doncaster) we thought this was a horse for big races. He finished fifth in the Derby and we thought the mile and a quarter would be better for him," bin Suroor said.
"He's a nice horse for the future and Oisin is a jockey for the future. He's done a really good job for us in Dubai and here, and we're going to use him more in the future.
"It's brilliant to win at Royal Ascot. This is a hard race to win, but finally we found the right horse.
"We'll maybe take him to Goodwood for a Group Two (Gordon Stakes), give him a break and later maybe the Champion Stakes."
Dubawi followed up in the next race when his daughter Coronet came late to defeat Frankel's daughter Mori in the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes over a mile and a half for the three-year-old fillies.
