Four-season shuttler Lope De Vega (IRE) sired the winner Belardo and third placed Endless Drama in Saturday's £350,000 Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
Splitting the pair was the game Euro Charline a 5yo daughter of Vinery Stud's Myboycharlie (IRE).
The day belonged to the winner who displayed an electric turn of foot to come from second last under Andrea Atzeni to win by a length with a neck back to third.
Winner of the Group I Dewhurst Stakes at two, Belardo went winless in seven starts at three.
The Roger Varian-trained colt rounded out his classic year with a second to Solow in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes before bouncing back to winning form at his first start this season as a 4yo in the Listed Doncaster Mile.
Winning trainer Roger Varian told Racing Post: "He salvaged his year last year chasing home Solow at Ascot and that told us we needed to keep him in training this year.
"I'm delighted for his owners and they kept the faith in him. His work has always been outstanding at home and he deserved another big one."
He added: "We want big horses in the yard and want to be running in the best races. If you have fancied runners in big races it comes with pressure but that's the sort of pressure you want."
Belardo is owned by Godolphin and Prince Faisal. Godolphin won the Lockinge last year with Dubawi's Group 1 2000 Guineas hero Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) who is a welcome addition to Darley's Northwood Park roster this spring.
A €100,000 yearling, Belardo is a half-brother to Group III winner Berling (Montjeu) out of the winning Danehill mare Danaskaya who was second in the Group II Lowther Stakes and third in the Group 1 Cheveley park Stakes.
Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby winner Lope De Vega (Shamardal) shuttled to Patinack Farm for four seasons (2011-14). In Australia, he is the sire of Group II winner French Fern and Group II winner Santa Ana Lane.
