Elusive Quality colt given positive ride in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Three times in Group Ones this season Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality - Ascutney, by Lord At War) has finished behind Henrythenavigator, with the margin of defeat decreasing on each occasion - only a head separated the pair in the Sussex Stakes last month.

In the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday the Elusive Quality colt was at last ridden like a true miler and he showed his true colours, running on strongly in the straight to beat Henrythenavigator by a length. The win gave trainer John Gosden and jockey Jimmy Fortune a quick Group One double, Rainbow View having won the earlier Fillies' Mile.

The omens were there from the start as Raven's Pass broke well and raced in front of the Ballydoyle colt as Honoured Guest and Racinger set a cut-throat early pace. In the straight Tamayuz took the lead from third place, with a confident Jimmy Fortune looming on his outside on Raven's Pass, tracked by Henrythenavigator. Fortune kicked for home two furlongs out and the Elusive Quality colt responded well, always holding the dual Guineas winner in second for a fifth career win. The mare Sabana Perdida ran on from the rear for third, but Tamayuz folded tamely in the final quarter mile.

The Breeders' Cup now beckons for the winner, with the Mile the obvious target, though the Classic could enter connections' calculations.

Gosden told the BBC afterwards: "It all went wrong in the Guineas from the draw but he ran a blinder in the St James's Palace. We knew this time we would be a little handier, that was the only plan - be handier.

"The plan is now to go to the Breeders' Cup, whether that is for the Mile or the Classic we will have to see - he sees his races out much better now. He has been on the go since February, but he looks great in his coat."