Doubts over the ability of Mahsoob to cut it at Group race level were firmly erased following his resolute success in the Weatherbys General Stud Book Earl of Sefton Stakes.
Although failing to make any impact in either the Princess of Wales's Stakes or the Strensall Stakes on his final two starts, having completed a hat-trick of handicap wins in the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot, the five-year-old returned to winning ways on his return to action.
Travelling strongly in behind the early pace set by favourite Air Pilot, the 100-30 chance picked up well inside the final furlong of the one-mile-one furlong Group Three event before obliging by a length and a quarter to complete a double for jockey Paul Hanagan.
John Gosden, winning trainer, said: "He's getting quicker with age and I'm delighted with him.
"He's been training nicely at home and doing everything on his own.
"He's been breezing away at home and is a happy horse.
"We won at Royal Ascot last year but lost his form after that. He's had a good winter and I wouldn't mind bringing him back a furlong."
Mahsoob was left unchanged at 25-1 for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury next month with Paddy Power
Air Pilot's trainer Ralph Beckett said: "I'm very pleased. He's run his race once again and I don't think he's ever run a poor race.
"There are plenty of options, but he's best on this ground.
"He can go abroad as he doesn't mind travelling. He's run well in France and Ireland and it was a bit unfortunate what happened to him in Germany, but I wouldn't rule that out for him.
"He will come on for it, but I wouldn't say he needed the race."
Williams Haggas refused to get carried away by the winning debut of Sky Kingdom (3-1 favourite), who kick started Smullen's brace, in the Celebrating 350 Years of Making History Wood Ditton Stakes, despite receiving quotes between 33-1 and 40-1 for the Investec Derby.
He said: "I guess having won we'll step him up in trip and come back here at the Guineas meeting for the Listed race (Newmarket Stakes). I think that would be the sensible thing.
"As with all trainers at this time of year we will take it one step at a time."
While there were plenty of Classic clues on offer, Sutter County (4-9) bolstered his chances of making an appearance at Royal Ascot with a head win in the Ben Burgess & Co EBF Novice Stakes to earn a quote of 14-1 with Paddy Power for the Coventry Stakes.
Winning trainer Mark Johnston said: "Even before the race we had some concerns about the ground with him not having run on it.
"I would like to think he is a lot better than that on fast ground. He will have one more run on fast ground then the plan will be to go to Royal Ascot."
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