San Sebastian scored at Royal Ascot for the second year running yesterday when he and Michael Kinane got the better of a head-to-head battle over the final quarter mile of the 2m 6f Queen Alexandra Stakes with Jasseur and Frankie Dettori.

The Irish raider, who took the Ascot Stakes 12 months ago, got home under a powerful finish to score by a head. Trainer Michael Grassick said: "It's only in the last two weeks he's come right. I suppose the main objective would be the Prix du Cadran again at Longchamp and then come back here again next year."

Aidan O'Brien and Kinane suffered another reverse at the start following Lavery's withdrawal from the King's Stand Stakes, when Rossini, the 5 to 4 favourite refused to enter the stalls in the Windsor Castle Stakes won by Kalindi.