The Starspangledbanner colt blitzed his rivals on his racecourse debut at Ayr last month and Malton trainer John Quinn was confident his youngster would not be out of place in Berkshire.
Sent off a well-supported 5/1 joint-favourite, The Wow Signal got off to a fast start and raced close to the pace from the start.
Dettori coaxed his mount into the lead heading inside the final two furlongs and his rivals were unable to keep tabs on the northern raider as he galloped all the way to the line to take the Group Two prize by a length and three-quarters.
The Ger Lyons-trained Cappella Sansevero changed ownership at Monday’s Goffs London Sale for £1.3million and he went some way to repaying that massive price tag by running a fine race to finish second in the colours of Qatar Racing.
Jungle Cat was just a short-head away in third.
The Wow Signal’s victory was the second of the afternoon for Sheikh Joaan Al Thani’s Al Shaqab Racing team, following the opening race triumph of Toronado in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Dettori said: “It feels great, it’s been a few years since my last winner here, but I’m getting close to 50 now.
“I’m delighted, it (the meeting) couldn’t have started any better.
“I was worried about the ground being a bit quick but he showed tremendous courage, he’s a real good two-year-old.
“I love Ascot and this is what it is all about, riding winners on the big day.”
Quinn said: “That’s my second Royal Ascot winner after Pevensey a few years ago.
“My son Sean bought him at the breeze ups, he won his maiden and lots of people rang to buy him to take him out of the yard but Harry Herbert (Al Shaqab racing manager) was the one man who said he could stay with us and I’m very grateful for that.
“He’s a great galloper, we felt six (furlongs) up here would suit, but he’ll get seven and a mile.”
Asked about future plans, Quinn said: “I don’t know, we’ll talk to Harry about it but he’s a very good colt and he’ll be campaigned accordingly.
“He’s crying out for seven furlongs and I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned up in next year’s Guineas with a good chance.”
Lyons said of the runner-up: “He’s obviously a very exciting horse, he ran very, very well. No excuses, I’m just delighted that one of my best friends (John Quinn) beat us.”
Mark Johnston said of Jungle Cat: “Joe (Fanning) said he has so much pace that we could almost go back to five furlongs, but we’ll have to consider the Richmond (at Goodwood).”
Sky Bet introduced the winner at 16/1 for the 2000 Guineas and spokesman Michael Shinners said: “That was impressive from The Wow Signal who looks to have inherited plenty of speed from his sire Starspangledbanner.
“Whether he’ll stay the Guineas trip remains to be seen and for that reason we’ll dangle the 16/1.”
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