Sakhee's Secret completed his transition from handicaps to the highest echelons of the sprinting division by taking the Darley July Cup at Newmarket yesterday.

Raiders from Ireland, France, Germany, South Africa and Australia gathered for a tilt at the six-furlong Group One, but could not prevent a wholly British success.

Trained by Hughie Morrison and ridden by Steve Drowne, Sakhee's Secret is owned by Bridget Swire, a doyenne of the British breeding industry.

In holding off the desperate charge of Dutch Art by half a length, three-year-olds were able to fill the first two places.

Sakhee's Secret (9 to 2) had started the season at the Rowley Mile course, just a stone's throw away, when sluicing home off a mark of 93 in a Class Two handicap. Morrison then sensibly preserved him for the big occasion by opting for a couple of further stepping stones in Listed races at Salisbury and Newbury since.

It was a second July Cup in three renewals for the East Ilsley trainer following Pastoral Pursuits' victory in 2005.

"You can never quite believe they are that good when you only go the Listed route and this was quite a performance to go up four grades," he said.

"I am an advocate of moving up the system and we decided not to go for Royal Ascot and run at Salisbury instead.

"Steve said he had to take a pull after 100 yards as he was flying, and this means we can either go five or seven furlongs in future."

The South African runner Drayton set a scorching pace from the off, flanked by Ireland's Dandy Man before the former weakened with a couple of furlongs to run.

Bentley Biscuit and the eventual fourth, Marchand d'Or, moved to the fore, although it was Red Clubs who hit the front briefly at the distance before Sakhee's Secret began his charge.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's Dutch Art (5 to 1), responded well for Jimmy Fortune but never looked like quite getting up. Tracey Collins's Dandy Man was fifth, just ahead of the 4 to 1 favourite Asset and Borderlescott.Sander Camillo, trailed in last of 18.