But in yet another trial that posed more questions than provided answers, Scorpion failed to convince despite going down by just a short-head in a thrilling finish with Mister Genepi the same distance back in third.

Ehsan was another horse to lose his 100 per cent record as he faded out of contention in the final furlong but he did at least serve to make the race a thorough test as he cut out a serious gallop in the early stages.

Leading a furlong out, Im Spartacus had to work hard to hold the persistent challenge of fellow British raider Mister Genepi.

And having done that it was then the late bid of Scorpion that came closest to denying the winner as the runner-up made rapid progress in the dying strides under Kieren Fallon to force a three-way photograph.

Scorpion was arguably unlucky to lose out, having had to be switched off the rails.

But with Im Spartacus having long since been a gelding – and therefore ineligible to take part in the Derby – the race failed to cause much of a shake-up in the betting for the blue riband.

But nothing was going to prevent Flood from celebrating a success which proved a pointer to the chances of O’Brien’s Gypsy King, whom Im Spartacus went down to by a short-head in the Dee Stakes at Chester earlier in the month.

Never short of a word or two, Flood beamed: “He’s improving from race to race. You can’t see it to look at him but he has got such a confidence that you have to treat him with the utmost respect.

“He’s a gelding so we can’t run him in the Vodafone Derby but we’ll look at all the best races around the world for him as he’s on a roll and I don’t think he’s stopped improving.

“I wish I’d had him as a yearling as he might not be a gelding now but he only cost about 20,000 guineas and he has done us proud.”

Interestingly, Spencer said: “It rode like a very good race, better than the Dee Stakes I’d say.

“My fellow is usually on the bridle until at least the three pole but we were flat out five furlongs out. He had to be very brave and I would not knock the form or this horse.”

Mister Genepi’s trainer Willie Muir was pleased with his charge’s performance.

“When I walked the track earlier, the ground was fine but it had rained steadily all day since then and he just can’t quicken up on it,” he explained.

“I thought we’d win today. He’s a very good horse but I’m still delighted to finish third beaten two short heads on ground that didn’t suit us. I’ve left him in the French Derby and we’ll definitely look at that for him.”

For just his second race, it represented a solid performance by Scorpion and one which the colt can build on in the future.

Coral trimmed him to 10-1 from 12-1 for the Derby and pushed Ehsan out to 25-1, while VC Bet cut Scorpion to 12-1 from 16s and also took Ehsan out of the betting.

George Washington had got the Ballydoyle team off to a better start when winning the opener.

The well-touted half-brother to Grandera got turned over on his debut at Newmarket earlier in the month when only third to League Champion.

But punters who sent him off at 30-100 to make amends saw him land the odds in the Boylesports 1800 221 321 European Breeders Fund Maiden with the minimum fuss.

The colt, who runs in the colours of Sue Magnier and cost a cool 1.15 million guineas, came through under a patient ride by Kieren Fallon to beat Global Wings by two lengths.

Despite enjoying little more than an exercise canter, George Washington’s reputation at home is second to none and it is more on talk than evidence that Cashmans offer him at just even-money to take next month’s Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot at York.

Cashmans also offer just 14-1 about the colt winning next year’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, while totesport cut their price from 33-1 to 25-1 after the victory.

O’Brien said: “At Newmarket he got a fright when he was bumped by another horse after about a furlong and it took him right across the course. Kieren wanted to educate him today and that’s exactly what he has done. He’s in at Royal Ascot and all of those races and we’ll see how he is.”