Lord Shanakill was made to work hard for his success in the Group 2 Betfair Cup, taking his Group-race tally to three.
Tom Queally's mount, sent off at 13-2, was delivered to win his race at the three pole, slowly grinding down 7-2 favourite Dalghar, who raced prominently and stayed on for third.
The Henry Cecil-trained winner overhauled the French raider and then battled gamely to repel a late challenge from the fast-finishing Cat Junior under Jamie Spencer by a head.
Speaking after the race, Mike Marshall, assistant to winning trainer Henry Cecil, said: "He really deserved that, the confidence booster we gave him at Chester last time did just the trick.
"He's done everything right since and looked a picture today. He came here in terrific form and we'd have been disappointed if he was not in the shake up."
Queally added: "It's good to get his head in front in what looked like a really decent affair. He's entitled to another crack at the top level, but that's not for me to say."
The son of Speightstown was bred by Vimal and Gill Khosla, British-based owner-breeders whose familiar blue, grey and yellow silks have been carried with distinction by Mac Love, Royal Destination and Tournedos, in partnership with Caroline Green, owner of Templeton Stud.
Lord Shanakill is out of the Theatrical mare Green Room, who was purchased by Green with the Betfair Cup winner in-utero for $240,000 from the 2006 Keeneland Janaury horses of all ages sale.
Green Room is a granddaughter of blue hen Chain Store, best known as the dam of Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Al Bahathri, but also at the head of a family that keeps coming up with top performers - Al Bahathri's sonHaafhd, this season's Musidora Stakes winner Aviate, Santa Anita Handicap scorer Heatseeker and top three-year-old Hearts Of Fire, to name a few.
Green Room is also dam of this season's dual winner Brannagh (by Hennessy), a two-year-old colt by Dixie Union and a yearling filly by Lemon Drop Kid. She is foal to Smart Strike.
After Racing Post
