Al Qareem made it three wins from his last four starts with a comfortable victory in the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup at York.
Following a commanding success in the Listed Grand Cup Stakes last time out, Karl Burke's likeable six-year-old was odds-on to follow up over the same course and distance.
Adopting his usual front running tactics under Clifford Lee, Al Qareem galloped on strongly at the head of affairs to score by a commanding two lengths.
"He always seems to look as though they're going to get him, but he just grinds it out, he's so honest and a superstar of a horse to train," said Burke.
"I'd say the weight will rule him out of the Ebor, presumably he'd get a penalty as well.
"It's always been the target, the Irish St Leger, I think it'd be a nice race for him to roll the dice in."
Washington Heights hangs tough to claim City Wall Stakes
Washington Heights capitalized on a steep drop in grade when winning the Listed John Smith's City Wall Stakes at York on Saturday.
Following fourth and third place finishes in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket and Temple Stakes at Haydock, connections opted to roll the dice in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
Kevin Ryan's likeable five-year-old lost little in defeat when beaten just under three lengths into seventh on that occasion and back down to Listed level, he was sent off the 9/4 favourite to get back to winning ways.
Always at the head of the pack under Shane Gray, the five-year-old son of Washington DC found plenty when asked for maximum effort, seeing off the Jack Channon-trained Miss Attitude by three parts of a length.
Fox Legacy lands John Smith's Cup
Later on the card, Fox Legacy relished the step back up in trip to land the prestigious John Smith's Cup.
Trained by Andrew Balding, who enjoyed Group 2 success courtesy of Never So Brave's victory in the Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot earlier in the day, Fox Legacy was stepping back up to a mile and a quarter after finishing a highly creditable sixth in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last sent.
A 10/1 chance in the hands of PJ McDonald, the King Power Racing-owned sat handy throughout before keeping on strongly in the closing stages to beat See That Storm by a
length, who in turn, was three parts of a length ahead of William Haggas' front running 15/8 favourite Archivist in third.
"It's a testament to the horse that from that draw I was able to get a position and then take him back and relax where I was," McDonald told ITV Racing.
"The only thing I had to do was to make sure not to go too soon, he travelled around beautifully for me, and he gave me a great spin.
"I was still going nicely into the two (furlong pole). I thought if I let him stretch out and take it (the lead) they'd have to come and get me. Andrew's horses are absolutely flying."
