Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore took the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot as Santiago powered home from Berkshire Rocco.
The Authorized colt was settled in midfield through the first half of the mile and three-quarter race but Moore eased him closer on the run towards the turn into the straight.
Al Dabaran took over at the head of affairs from pace-setters Punctuation and Born With Pride, but the Godolphin colt was the next to run out of petrol and it boiled down to a battle between Santiago and the patiently-ridden Berkshire Rocco under Oisin Murphy.
Moore got first run on the returning Listowel maiden winner towards the inside rail and his mount responded well in the final furlong to score by two and three-quarter lengths.
The run of runner-up Berskshire Rocco will have caught the eye of English King backers, Ed Walker's antepost Derby favourite having beaten him in the Lingfield Derby Trial.
Sky Bet make the winner 20/1 for the Investec Derby at Epsom and 8/1 for the St Leger at Doncaster later in the year.
O'Brien said: "He's a lovely straightforward horse. He travelled well and we always thought he would stay well. He's an easy horse to train and an easy horse to get fit.
"We've been thinking he was an ideal St Leger horse so we'll look for another run somewhere between now and then really.
"I'm not sure he'd run in a Derby as he could be a Cup horse for next year - he'll get better from three to four.
"We've plenty for both Derbys, the Irish Derby would come too quick anyway but we'll see what the lads want to do.
"We think he'll be a horse for the Cup races next year so that is why we thought this race would suit him."
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