King Of Change ran out an authoritative winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Runner-up to the reopposing Magna Grecia when a 66-1 shot for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May, Richard Hannon's charge had made just one competitive appearance since - making a successful return from over four months off the track in a Listed event at Sandown.
Ridden confidently by Sean Levey, the 12-1 chance travelled strongly in midfield before quickening smartly to grab the lead with over a furlong still to run - and never looked in serious danger of being caught.
French raider The Revenant - bidding for a seventh straight win - did his best to close the gap late on, but King Of Change was ultimately well on top and passed the post a length and a quarter to the good.
Safe Voyage ran a big race to be best of the rest in third, ahead of the front-running Veracious.
Magna Grecia and the well-backed favourite Benbatl both toiled in the testing conditions and finished well beaten.
Hannon said: "I thought he'd run well in the Guineas, but he had a hard race so we put him away - we thought it would be fast ground at Royal Ascot, but we got the first Royal Ascot in 10 years where it rained!
"After missing that we took our time and he came back to win his Listed race well. Sean said he's the best horse he's ever ridden, so he must give him some feel.
"You'd love to be part of Royal Ascot, but it was always about next year for him. I'm delighted for everyone. He's got lots of options, but it's a shorter winter on the back of a win like that."
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