In lofty company: Ten Sovereigns among the best July Cup winners this century

We witnessed an exceptional performance from Aidan O'Brien's Ten Sovereigns in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday, an effort that earned him a Racing Post Rating of 125. That has been topped only twice in the July Cup this century.

MozartRPR 129, 2001

The talented son of Danehill was considered a Classic prospect in the early stages of his career and finished runner-up to Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Black Minnaloushe in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Victory in the Jersey Stakes from the front over seven furlongs suggested he had enough speed for a drop back to six furlongs and he relished the speed test when when blitzing his rivals to win the July Cup by three and a half lengths.

Mozart (bottom left) scorches a trail as he wins the July Cup in 2001Credit: Edward Whitaker

His recorded RPR of 129 is the highest achieved in this race this century, and he produced another impressive performance when hacking up in the Nunthorpe on his next start.

Oasis DreamRPR 128, 2003

Improved steadily as a two-year-old for John Gosden, signing off for the season with an impressive victory in the Middle Park. He was beaten at Royal Ascot on his return by crack Australian sprinter Choisir, but turned the tables on that rival in the July Cup, producing a top-class effort to win by a length and a half.

Oasis Dream: three-time Group 1 winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Oasis Dream went on to win the Nunthorpe in scintillating style before coming unstuck on rain-softened ground at Haydock in the Sprint Cup.

Ten SovereignsRPR 125, 2019

Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, including the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, demonstrating plenty of speed.

Stamina for a mile was a question mark and could finish only fifth in the 2,000 Guineas on his return. However, he was quickly rerouted to sprinting, and built enormously on a disappointing fourth in the Commonwealth Cup when slamming his rivals in the July Cup.

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news