Positive held on by a narrow margin in a photo finish with fast-finishing Kameko to claim the Betway Solario Stakes at Sandown.
The Clive Cox-trained Positive was sent off the hot 4/5 favourite in the hands of Adam Kirby following his Vintage Stakes second to Pinatubo, form which had received a boost with third home Lope Y Fernandez winning the Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh on Friday evening.
It wasn't plain-sailing for the Dutch Art colt, who took over at the head of affairs a couple of furlongs down but was challenged on the outside by market rival Al Suhail.
The Godolphin runner's effort flattened out inside the distance but as Positive drifted slightly in the centre of the track, the once-raced Kameko made steady headway on the far-side rail and his late lunge under Oisin Murphy resulted in the photo being required.
Positive - introduced at 25/1 with Sky Bet for the 2000 Guineas next May - held sway by a nose, to the relief of favourite-backers, while there was a length further back to Al Suhail in third.
Cox said: "We're very pleased. He has progressed every step of the way, but he is still quite raw.
"We are very much aware that more time is going to see further progress - with the right sort of behaviour.
"It was close at the line, but they went a good gallop and it was a good time, so we can be no more than pleased with him."
Positive holds several big-race entries and Cox is keen to let the dust settle before deciding on his next objective.
"I don't think he's ground dependent. We've not tested him on anything too slow, but I don't think there are too many problems there," the Lambourn trainer added.
"He is still a very nice, improving horse. We'll see how he comes back, but he's well entered - he's in over seven furlongs in the Dewhurst, he's in the Royal Lodge and the Champagne Stakes and he's also in the Lagardere in France, so we're covering all bases.
"We'll let the horse tell us, as always."
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