A polished front-running performance was enough for the Michael Jarvis-trained Kite Wood to justify market confidence in the Deloitte Autumn Stakes at Ascot.
Last year's winner Ibn Khaldun carried on the season to collect the Group One Racing Post Trophy and while the Galileo colt holds an entry for Doncaster, Jarvis will keep him back for what is likely to be a Derby campaign.
The first three in the betting finished in the anticipated order with the well-regarded Taameer and Four Winds seeming to have enough time to pass Kite Wood if they could, but Philip Robinson kicked the 9-4 favourite on again to take glory by a length and a half.
"I'm delighted — he can gallop and he can quicken up a bit," said Jarvis. "He's finished for the year — he takes a bit out of himself after his races. We'll see what happens in the spring but I think he's a middle-distance horse rather than a Guineas horse — a 10-12 furlong sort."
Marcus Tregoning was not too downcast about runner-up Taameer, adding: "He ran a good race. He took a while to extricate himself but the winner has won well. We will improve a lot for the experience."
Kite Wood is 20-1 for next year's Derby with Ladbrokes and Boylesports but only 14s with Paddy Power.