WONDER horse Don’t Touch broke the mould as he landed the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup at sun-kissed Ayr on Saturday.

Steered to victory by Tony Hamilton, he became the first three-year-old since Funfair Wane in 2002 to win and the first favourite since Coastal Bluff in 1996 to taste glory in Europe’s richest sprint handicap.

The 6-1 shot ensured a nightmare afternoon for the bookies as he edged home in the £180,000 race, ahead of 50-1 surprise package Foyle Vinnie and a totally dream one for trainer Richard Fahey who completed a Gold and Silver Cup double and won two other races as part of a stunning 5,984-1 four-timer.

Ninjago, a 33-1 shot trained by Richard Hannon came in third and Toofi (10-1) trained by Roger Varian was fourth.

It was an exceptional run by the inspirational Don’t Touch, who looks simply unstoppable as he burst through in the closing stages to win his fifth successive race and this success is surely a mere stepping stone for even greater things to come.

Co-owners Nicholas Wrigley and Kevin Hart could hardly contain their delight following the glittering triumph.

A jubilant Wrigley admitted the super sprinter had surpassed expectations and said: “I can’t believe it. I didn’t expect this, I had read hat no three-year-old had won in 13 years and no favourite had won since God was in short pants and so people thought we had no chance. We discussed it on the way here and said we hoped it comes back sound and maybe in the first six, this was really exciting.” He admitted the triumph was one of his career highlights and said: “This is one of my best days by a long shot.” Added Hart: “When your horse’s first time out is a maiden at York in May you don’t really dream about winning the Ayr Gold Cup, I don’t know many who have done that before. Richard Fahey said halfway through the race at York that he wanted to run the Ayr Gold Cup and since then it was about how we got there. He travelled lovely today and he’s a great horse.” Fahey said: “It’s grand he has won and we have got here in a very short space of time, four months. I had a tear in my eye and it takes a lot for me to cry. I have waited nine years to win this and we have been placed a few times. You need a special horse to win this race and this one is special. We always felt this was the race for him. I am properly delighted.” Jockey Tony Hamilton added: “I was second and third in this race with Fantasy Believer so it was really great as this was a race I have always wanted to win. He got there, early, possibly too early but he dug in deep to win.” The Gold Cup triumph came just over an hour after Fahey celebrated success in the Silver Cup with Tatlisu, with Jack Garritty on board.

He had opened the meeting with victory for Another Touch, who was piloted to victory by Hamilton in the QTS/EBF British Stallion Studs Nursery Handicap Stakes, while in the penultimate race, the Microtech Group Handicap Stakes, Garritty powered Right Touch to glory.

One of the biggest cheers of the day came in the William Hill Doonside Cup, when the aptly-named Scottish romped to victory and was ironically owned by an Englishman - Andrew Balding and ridden by a Welshman - David Probert.

Hayley Turner piloted 16-1 shot Shaden to victory in the William Hill Firth of Clyde Stakes, while Mutasayyid, with Paul Hanagan on board took the top prize in the William Hill Ayr Handicap Stakes and Tony Eaves steered 50-1 outsider Hardstone to an unlikely success in the final race, the Jordan Electrics Ltd Handicap Stakes.

Friday’s action saw Alan Bailey’s 20-1 shot Go Far take the honours in the William Hill Bronze Cup. He travelled very well in midfield for Martin Harley and surged clear in the final furlong to see off Tiger Jim (15-2) and New Bidder (13-1) by two lengths.

Quiet Reflection (8-1) won the Harry Roseberry Stakes with former Grand National-winning jockey Graham Lee on board and there was more success for Carluke trainer Keith Dalgleish, when Compton Heights (8-1) won the South Ayrshire Cup under Phillip Makin.

On Thursday Makin had a hat-trick, with Speed Company, Argaki and Maleficent Queen triumphant and Irvine-born jockey Danny Tudhope was victorious on 16-1 shot Rock Canyon.