Bookmakers breathed a sigh of relief as 6-1 chance Workforce overcame the Ballydoyle and Godolphin battalions with his scintillating performance in the Investec Derby.
Aidan O'Brien's St Nicholas Abbey was the top dog in the ante-post betting for the premier Classic, but after a setback ruled him out of the race, punters tried to recoup their losses on his stablemate Jan Vermeer.
But the 9-4 favourite could finish only fourth, while housewives' favourite Frankie Dettori, backed off the boards in the morning to be sent off at 9-2 on Rewilding, was third.
The fact that At First Sight filled the runner-up spot at 100-1 was another blow to punters.
David Williams, spokesman for Ladbrokes, said: "The public plunge on Rewilding saw us go into the race with real Frankie fear. Workforce rode to our rescue and we've no complaints at all.
"Even the placed horses were good for us. It wasn't quite a bonanza, but it was certainly a day for the bookies."
Totesport spokesman George Primarolo echoed those sentiments, adding: "After the plunge on Jan Vermeer a week ago, the public lumped on Rewilding as if defeat was out of the question and there would have been a multi-million-pound payout if either had won.
"However, Ryan Moore has ridden to the rescue and we'll be raising a glass to the champion jockey."
William Hill did actually see some money for the winner and their spokesman David Hood believes it was a good result for punters and layers alike.
"We took everyone's money with our 3-1 on Jan Vermeer in the morning, but we were able to be brave as we were laying plenty of others in the race, among them Workforce," said Hood.
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