Settled at the rear along with his main rival Dunaden as the two pacemakers set for sail around Tattenham Corner, Joseph O’Brien pressed the button two furlongs from home and the response was immediate.

The 30-100 favourite kicked three lengths clear and while Dunaden stuck gamely to his task in second, he never for one minute looked like catching the three-and-three-quarter-lengths winner.

O'Brien jnr said: ``Whatever it is over the winter he's matured, he lobs down to the start on a long rein and you can put him where you like in his races.

“On his blow at home the other morning he was exceptional, better than he has ever been.

“He’s a force to be reckoned with this year, I don’t see why he can’t be the best around over middle distances.”

Co-owner Derrick Smith said: ``I loved him from the moment he first ran and I've loved him all the way through.

“He disappointed in his three-year-old career but since then he’s got better and better and, dare I say it, I think he’s better than he ever was.

“Obviously the King George comes to mind and we might go for the Hardwicke, we’ll just keep running him as he’s as good as he ever was.”

Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Dunaden, said: “I think that’s as good as he is compared to St Nicholas Abbey. He ran a good race, but that’s it.

“I don’t think he’ll go back to Australia but I don’t know. Maybe the Arc.”