Awtaad in charge at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Awtaad travelled best in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas and powered home to give Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes Classic glory.
The 9/2 chance beat 5/4 favourite Galileo Gold into second by two and a half lengths with Blue De Vega (7/1) a further four and a quarter lengths back in third.
Hayes settled his charge in mid-division as Air Vice Marshal dictated the fractions from Sanus Per Aquam The pair were a close fifth with half a mile to travel and improved on the outer to third at the three pole.
He tanked into the lead at the two marker and was ridden a furlong and a half down to go for home. In the final furlong he was chased by Galileo Gold but Awtaad galloped on to win for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Octogenarian Kevin Prendergast said: "It was great, the best thing that has happened to me for years. I'd like to thank Sheikh Hamdan for having faith in me for a long time. He's a very good horse. He's improving and I think a trip won't be any different problem to him.
“He was very backward as a two-year-old and I’d say he’s as good a horse as I’ve had. We have a dry place at home and he worked well there but he had won on soft so we accepted it.
"I think he’s a very good horse but how far he will go I don’t know. He was forced to go a bit early today as Frankie was in a bit of bother on the inside, so he kicked and hoped for the best.
“I don’t know where he will go next. The boss man makes the decision and we go along with it. The last one (Irish 2,000 Guineas) was 40 years ago and a lot of lads weren’t born then!
“He’s in the (Investec) Derby and the Irish Derby so we’ll see what he (Sheikh Hamdan) wants to do. There is a good bit of stamina in the family so who knows.”
Chris Hayes said: "We just wanted to get him into a nice rhythm and get him switched off. Kevin's was a little bit gassy in front of me (Sanus Per Aquam) and I was happy enough to take a lead and I could see where Frankie was (on Galileo Gold). He didn't have an acre of room so I was just making sure I was keeping him as tight as I could. It just meant that I kicked a bit sooner than anticipated.
"My lad is as genuine as hell and he just kept his head going. I'd love to have got a lead a bit longer and you'd see an even better horse but he was good enough. You can be lying in second gear on him and all you have to do is move your hands and he goes from second to fifth and you drop back down again. He's the closest thing to driving a car you'll find with a set of reins!
"He's a gentleman of a horse. He switched off and everything went according to plan. It means the world to me to be able to ride a Classic winner for the boss. He said there was a lot of VAT paid in between the last time he had a Classic winner so it's just nice.
"I could see him (Frankie Dettori) on the big screen and I'd love to have let Frankie out on a normal day but not in a Classic. It means the world to me. The boss has been so good to me since I was 15 years of age when I landed in Kildare. He has stood by me every inch of the way. That's the only way I can repay him.
"I had probably too much faith in him. I didn't sleep for a week. He excites you this horse. I'd love to go to Royal Ascot with him and get a top hat on! I don’t know if he will get a mile and a half but I think he will definitely get a mile and a quarter.”
Awtaad was given a first show of 9/2 by Paddy Power for the St James's Palace Stakes. The same firm make The Gurkha 5/4 favourite from 5/2. BoyleSports go 5/1 Awtaad and Betfair 4/1.
For the Investec Derby, Betfair slashed Awtaad from 50/1 to 16/1 while Ladbrokes shortened him to 14/1 from 40/1 and BoyleSports were even more impressed cutting him to 12/1 from 40s.
Prendergast won the Irish 2,000 Guineas 40 years ago with Northern Treasure.
Hayes landed his second Classic after Voleuse De Coeurs took the Irish St Leger in 2013 for Dermot Weld.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
