Ten Sovereigns and Advertise have been handed fresh targets by their respective trainers, after finishing as the 1-2 in the July Cup Stakes at Newmarket at the weekend.
The son of No Nay Never [TS] blew away the opposition in the big Group One sprint at flat racing headquarters on Saturday, which was dominated by three-year-olds.
Pulling nearly three lengths clear of the Commonwealth Cup scorer Advertise - who came home second, he was simply not for catching back on an even and firm surface.
Victory perhaps also came about with a better preparation behind him, after two poor showings previously this season at Royal Ascot and in the Guineas.
After landing one of the gambles of the season, his trainer Aidan O'Brien believes he may now have the next 'Stravinsky' on his hands.
Last year's Middle Park scorer opened up at 10/1 on course, and went off at 9/2 - despite being as short as 4/1 favourite at one stage.
O'Brien expressed how well he has worked at home, even producing four furlongs at eleven seconds on the Ballydoyle gallops.
(Credit: AtTheRaces) He said: “We were delighted with him. We felt he had made very good progress since Ascot.
“We knew we had to step up from Ascot, but we felt that his work was very good and we were looking forward to seeing him run.”
O'Brien - who also landed the Group One Grand Prix de Paris with Japan on Sunday, has now pointed the finger towards the Nunthorpe at York for his best sprinter's next outing.
“I think the lads will decide that (where he goes next), but he would have the option of the Nunthorpe.
“We’ll see how he comes out of this race first.”
As for Advertise, Martyn Meade will seek to get his stable star back to Group One-winning form as soon as possible, and has identified the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 4 as the next step.
Not disgraced in second, Advertise could not reel in the winner despite comfortably getting the better of him in the three-year-old sprint final at Royal Ascot.
Clearly the ground being the main variable, trainer Meade remains upbeat on the three-year-old's progress, after also opening his account for the season with a flopped effort in the opening classic of the season.
(Credit: AtTheRaces) He said: “He’s come out of it really well, surprisingly. He’s been bucking and kicking today. He’s in great form.
“It was just extraordinary how that form from Ascot could turn round.
“You have to assume Ten Sovereigns wasn’t right at Ascot. I don’t know. I’m just baffled how he improved so much.
“If we knew he was going to run like that, we might have had different tactics. We weren’t quick out of the box.
Nevertheless, Meade could not hide his disappointment over the battering - a horse he has spoke so highly of in the last twenty-four months, received on the July course.
“I am thrilled to bits with him of course. He’s won two Group Ones and been second in a third.
"I’m obviously very disappointed we didn’t win. The ground was far from ideal, but it was no disgrace, and just annoying we didn’t win on the day.
“I think the Maurice de Gheest, over six and a half furlongs, will be next on the cards for him.”