Missed The Cut made a mockery of his opening mark of 95 as he spreadeagled the field in the 10-furlong Golden Gates Handicap.

Missed The Cut was sent off a well-backed 5/2 market leader to give George Boughey a second Royal Ascot winner after Inver Park landed Thursday’s Buckingham Palace Handicap.

And the Quality Road colt duly obliged, quickening away for an emphatic four-and-a-quarter-length victory under Australian rider James McDonald. Asgoodassobergets was second at 40/1 for Lambourn trainer Tom Ward while Sun King (12/1) stayed on well down the outside to grab third under Ryan Moore.

It capped a successful week for McDonald, who also rode Aussie Star Nature Strip to victory in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes and Royal Hunt Cup scorer Dark Shift.

Boughey said: “It is a very special day. It means a huge amount to have winners here, and we’d have bitten your hand off to have one this week. He looks a pretty special horse. His work has always been very good, and I haven’t kept it much of a secret to the owner what I thought of him.

“He’s a lovely, good-natured horse. He is well-bred and he was well-bought at the sales by Sam Haggas. We have bought plenty of horses out of the horses-in-training sale and he’s by far the best that we’ve bought from there.

“He’s got a tremendous attitude and likes fast ground. He’s a horse we might see round the world, I hope. We had a very good jockey riding who gave him the perfect ride. It’s fantastic for Ed [Babington, owner], who is a great supporter of the yard.

“Ryan Moore was meant to ride the horse – he’s great friends with Ed from way back. But he couldn’t, and James rides the track very well and the horse could end up over there [in Australia] at some point. The horse is a lot more straightforward than he used to be, and if he can travel, there’s a lot more money down there than there is here.

“This is the biggest stage in the world, and to have one winner is amazing. To have two means the world to me and to everyone at home. Everyone works incredibly hard, and I’m just lucky to stand here and pick up the prize.”

McDonald said: “Missed The Cut is a beautiful horse. He gave me an excellent feel, and it’s lovely the way he goes about his business in an uninterrupted fashion. He just takes everything in his stride.

“The race panned out beautifully. The pace was genuine and the feel he gave me when he accelerated was phenomenal. I did not expect him to go so soon.

“Ryan [Moore] gave me a great insight to him and I am thankful because it helped me out. Ryan was booked for the ride but then unfortunately for him he had to ride for Aidan, but he was thought his horse was very progressive. He is definitely a Group horse.

“George is a phenomenal up-and-coming trainer and a privilege to ride for him. My smile proves that it has been a very good week!”

5.35pm Golden Gates Handicap

1 Missed The Cut (Ed Babington) George Boughey 3-9-03 James McDonald 5/2F

2 Asgoodassobergets (Any Excuse For A Holiday) Tom Ward 3-8-10 Jim Crowley 40/1

3 Sun King (Exors of the Late Sir Robert Ogden, S Magnier, M Tabor) Aidan O’Brien 3-8-11 Ryan Moore 12/1

13 ran

George Boughey – 2nd Royal Ascot winner

James McDonald – 4th Royal Ascot winner