Limato dispelled Wantage trainer Henry Candy’s fears that his speed may be blunted by the rain-softened ground with a brilliant win in the Group 2 Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.

The three-year-old had not been seen since finishing second to Muhaarar in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June, having sidestepped Newbury’s Betfred Hungerford Stakes and Haydock’s Betfred Sprint Cup in the last month.

But despite the ground easing at Town Moor, the Kingston Warren handler let his charge take his chance and was rewarded with an exhilarating display.

Sent off the 9-2 favourite for the seven-furlong contest, Limato, under Andrea Atzeni, showed an electrifying burst of acceleration to storm home three and three-quarter lengths clear of Markaz.

Candy, enjoying his second successive big-race Saturday winner following Twilight Son’s victory in the Betfred Sprint Cup, said: “That was very exciting.

"Andrea just could not believe the gears he’s got. He said the horse got him out of trouble. It was amazing.

“I was desperate to run him today because he’s just been going up the gallops for four months.

"Any horse is going to get pretty bored with that.

“It was a major risk on the ground, but I think the horse has changed an awful lot. Now he’s got a bit older he can handle good to soft anyway, which opens up more opportunities as does his ability to get the trip.”

Limato could now go for the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Sunday, October 4.

Elsewhere, Cara’s Muse sprang a 25-1 surprise for Eve Johnson Houghton’s Blewbury stables when landing a seven-furlong nursery at Kempton West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon notched a 32-1 double at Bath courtesy of Zuzinia and Masterson.