Motivator produced a battling performance to claim the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster today.
The Michael Bell-trained runner, sent off the 6-4 favourite, benefited from a typically strong Kieren Fallon ride to win by two and a half lengths on testing ground.
Aidan O'Brien's Albert Hall came through late to claim second, while Henrik was a further length back in third.
Motivator was settled towards the back of the pack in the mile race as Hills Of Aran and Elliots World disputed the early pace.
Fallon began to move up at around the halfway mark, just niggling along to get Motivator up to challenge as the pacemakers faded out of it.
He hit the front about two furlongs out, but Henrik soon came through to challenge on the rails as Motivator, who was having only his second run, started to show some signs of greenness.
However, Fallon kept him on track and the colt ran on strongly in the final half-furlong to pull clear, while Albert Hall just found a bit extra under Jamie Spencer to steal the runner-up spot.
PA