Leading Irish jockey Pat Smullen has celebrated a convincing success on Captain Ramius in the Ayr Gold Cup at his first ride at the Scottish track.

Smullen, who rides for Dermot Weld and is expected to be aboard Galileo's Choice in the Melbourne Cup, made the most of the opportunity as he helped trainer Kevin Ryan to back-to-back victories in Europe's richest sprint handicap.

While last year's winner Our Jonathan failed to make an impact this time round, it was 16-1 shot Captain Ramius who landed the spoils in tremendous fashion.

Sholaan took the field along until a furlong (200m) out where Captain Ramius was produced to storm into the lead.

He soon put the race to bed to win by 2-1/2 lengths from 2008 winner Regal Parade (25-1) with 8-1 favourite Maarek a further 1-1/4 lengths away third.

"It's a great track and I'm sure I'll be coming back," Smullen said.

"The ground is not as bad as I thought it would be. We have been racing on desperate ground in Ireland.

"He travelled very well for me and I always thought he was going to win and he picked up for me when I asked him.