Dettori soon had the three-year-old cutting out the running and although 4-11 favourite Imperial Star threatened briefly midway down the straight, Ashaawes pulled away to beat Humungous (11-1), with Gandor a short-head away in third.

The winner was having his first start of the year having finished fourth in a Listed race at York’s Ebor meeting on his final outing of 2005.

“He looked a nice horse last year but has had some small problems,” said trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

“The main isse with him now is that he is nervous in his races but he will improve for this run as we left a bit to work on.

“He could be a Group horse for the future but we will probably try him at Listed level next, although there are no definite plans.”

The winner is entered in the Great Voltigeur and the Ladbrokes St Leger but Bin Suroor added: “It is too early to talk about the St Leger.”

Imperial Star was sent off at prohibitive odds after two taking wins at Windsor but he was eased right down by Jimmy Fortune in the final furlong and crossed the line a remote fifth.

“He lost his action and has pulled a muscle in behind,” said his trainer John Gosden.

Diamond Shower opened his account at the third time of asking with a promising display in the opening Mountsorrel Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Ed Dunlop’s three-year-old was sent off the 11-10 favourite in the mile-and-a-quarter contest and he quickened impressively when asked by Fortune at the three-furlong marker.

The Salisbury runner-up was then driven out to maintain the advantage and came home with a length and a quarter spare over Raucous (9-4), with Amazing Charlie third and the green Shumookh – a half-brther to 2005 Oaks winner Eswarah - fourth.

“He did that nicely but is a bit lazy in front and we will probably step him up to a mile and a half now,” said Bruce Raymond, spokesman for owners Gainsborough Stud.

“He will be a proper four-year-old and Jimmy said he was fine on the fast ground.”

George Baker rode a brilliant race on Blue Trojan (3-1) to come from first to last and land the Free Tips At gg.com Handicap for Sylvester Kirk.

Pillars of Wisdom stole a march on his rivals when kicking on two furlongs out but despite the best efforts of Seb Sanders, who was replacing Jamie Spencer who had incurred travel problems after appearing at HRA headquarters in London, Baker swept by to score by a length and a half.

“He loves fast ground and he always gets outpaced early on,” said Kirk. “The faster they go, the more he gets outpaced and the more it suits him.”

Baytown Paikea, fourth at Yarmouth just two days ago, made a bold bid to make all in the Raceday Hospitality Selling Stakes over the minimum distance.

Despite still holding the advantage over a furlong out, the juvenile was passed inside the distance with Shes Millie (11-1) quickening up best for all for a one-length win.

Unplaced on all three previous starts, the filly was off the bridle a long way from home but battled on well to beat Totally Free (16-1) with Baytown Paikea (15-2) weakening into third, a further head away.

The Ralph Beckett-trained Lipocco appreciated the step up to six furlongs when breaking his duck in the Racecourse Video Services Nursery.

The 9-2 shot had been placed on his three starts to date, all over Bath’s flying five furlongs, and saw out the extra distance with great ease.

Sanders’ mount enjoyed a great tussle with Mark Johnston’s 8-13 favourite Argentine throughout the race and just got his head in front close home for a neck victory.

The rider completed a double when Louphole (100-30 favourite) claimed the concluding Great Glen Handicap for trainer Peter Makin.

Tedstale (3-1) won his first race since November last year when sneaking up the far rail to deny 25-1 chance Jazrawy by a length and a half in the gg.com Claiming Stakes.