HEAR that? That’s the sound of thousands of marmalade sandwiches being chucked in the bin.
On the day when everyone expected Paddington to sink his teeth into another big one, it was Frankie and Mostahdaf who enjoyed the sweet, sweet taste of success.
We shouldn’t be surprised, the Italian’s appetite for winners on the biggest stage is insatiable.
He’s been stealing the show for over 30 years, so he was hardly going to break the habit of a lifetime, was he?
But one thing is for sure, he did not steal the Juddmonte International – his horse beat Paddington fair and square in an absorbing race.
Emotions have run high throughout the summer for Frankie, and this is another milestone ticked off as he edges ever closer to retirement.
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He now holds the record for wins in the Juddmonte with six, moving ahead of Lester Piggott, and whenever he talks about his hero he can't help but get a lump in the throat.
And he was genuinely moved by the reception of the York faithful, too, who were six or seven deep around the winner’s enclosure after this famous win.
Mind you, their cheers were as much for the horse as the jockey.
We often hear about the ‘knowledgeable’ Yorkshire crowd, and it’s more than just an empty cliche.
The punters that flock to the Knavesmire every August know their onions and truly appreciate a top-class horse when they see one.
Why do you think those of us who were lucky to be here in 2012 when Frankel won this race get so misty-eyed when talking about that famous day?
Because they created one hell of an atmosphere, better than what you’ll find at any Flat meeting in the rest of the calendar.
They raised the roof for Baaeed, serenaded Sea The Stars and made lots of noise for Mostahdaf.
It has definitely taken the five-year-old a while to reach his peak.
This time last year he had not long been beaten out of sight in a Newmarket Group 2.
But, just like the man on top, he has aged like a fine wine and is now clearly the best horse in Europe.
And he was given a ride straight out of the Dettori handbook.
Break well, get the lead, dictate the pace, win the race.
I'm sure when the time comes and docs dissect the jockey's brain, it's odds-on they'll find a clock in there somewhere.
He did it on Halling when winning this race for the first time in 1996 and executed front-running tactics to perfection again, 27 years later.
The man is timeless – you get the feeling he could go on forever. And we wish he could.
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He said: “I knew there was only one way to beat Paddington, and that was to be in front of him.
“If I let him get in front of me when I was giving him 7lb, a champion three-year-old would have been very hard to pass.
“I had him going a nice even tempo and I thought ‘come and catch me’.
“He has run over a mile and a half but he stays this trip really well.
“The key was to get the fractions right, not too slow, not too fast – thank God after 36 years I have learned!
“I still had two lengths rope two furlongs out I thought it would take a good one to come by me.
“It’s my last Ebor, my wife came along, I’m the first one to get six Internationals so I beat Lester – it’s absolutely brilliant, I’m so happy!”
So too was John Gosden, who wasn’t going to let anything spoil the moment – even soaking wet trousers.
His co-trainer and son Thady drenched him while trying to wash down Nashwa, who actually pipped Paddington for second, with John quipping: “You can pay for the dry cleaning!”
He has been one of Frankie’s closest allies over the last 30 years, helping the Italian get his career back on track in the 90’s after a cocaine ban and high-profile split with Luca Cumani.
And Gosden, 72, was there to pick Dettori up again in 2016 when it looked like his legendary career was going to end with a whimper.
They’ve had their ups and downs – even having a two-week ‘sabbatical’ last summer after a row at Ascot – but the smacker Dettori planted on his cheek told you everything you need to know about the two men.
Gosden said: “Mostahdaf is a proper horse. I think he has stopped the clock in a good time and he is better than he has ever been.
“You could say the same of his jockey. He is like a chameleon, he can adapt to any style of racing, he can go to France and have the Frenchman eating out of his hand.
“He is a truly international jockey and it’s been wonderful to play a part in his career.”
Aidan O’Brien, meanwhile, reckons he may have asked too much of Paddington.
The colt had been trying to emulate the ‘Iron Horse’ Giant’s Causeway in the Juddmonte, but in the final 100 yards he had all the finishing kick of an ironing board.
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O’Brien said: "He ran a great race, he had a tough race the last day and maybe it was a race too many for him.
"Maybe I just pulled the elastic band too long – that's the reality. He had a tough race in Goodwood on soft ground. I would say that just told in the end today."
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