As expected, Fort Lynas lead this competitive field for this 9f G3 through swift early fractions, with Archivist tracking Damysus in mid division. As Damysus laboured to take front rank, the Hamad Al-Jehani trainee Archivist tanked into contention before scooting clear to win most decisively. The winning margin was 7.5 lengths – extremely impressive, and against proven Group-class opposition on his Stakes debut. He deserves a further step up in class and promises to be effective from a mile to a mile and a quarter. Damysus soldiered in for fourth, failing to show his very best on the good to soft turf.

All of a sudden, Damysus‘s run when beaten into third when favourite to win the G2 York Stakes here last month looks much better form: the winner that day, Item, took the G1 Juddmonte International here on Wednesday. Prior to that, the distinctive-looking, white bedaubed Damysus, had looked slightly outclassed when finishing just behind the placed horses in championship one-mile races. This race’s distance sits between the two – 9f, a trip he has already won Group races at: it’s made to measure. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, he’s the ride of retained rider James Doyle. Wathnan’s gold-capped silks will be sported by Callum Rodriguez on Archivist, renewing the partnership which was successful in the Golden Mile at Goodwood. The Hamad Al-Jehani-trained four-year-old looks ready both for this longer distance and rise in grade.