Trawlerman went one better than last year to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in a track record under a brilliant front-running ride from William Buick.
The 2024 runner-up, trained by John and Thady Gosden, led all the way and left Illinois back in second, with Dubai Future third.
Buick punched the air as he crossed the line on the 85-40 favourite, who was giving the Gosdens a fifth win of the week.
“I was just a passenger,” said Buick after winning the Gold Cup for the first time.
Trawlerman had finished second 12 months earlier to the now-retired Kyprios, whose trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore relied on Illinois this time.
The pair were looking for a treble after earlier wins for Charles Darwin and Garden Of Eden, but there was no catching the winner.
John Gosden was winning the race for a fifth time, all in the last eight years, after three victories with Stradivarius between 2018-20, and victory with his son Thady thanks to Courage Mon Ami in 2023.
French contender Candelari was among the leading fancies but could only finish sixth, 29 lengths behind the winner.
Temperatures hit 30C at the Berkshire track as the sunny weather continued, and a course spokesperson said one person was taken to hospital while a further 42 received treatment on Wednesday for heat-related conditions.
