Cape Blanco turned in a hugely impressive performance to give Aidan O'Brien his fourth success in the totesport Dante Stakes at York and stake his Investec Derby claims in the process.
Sent off at 9-2 on the back of an unbeaten juvenile campaign, the Galileo colt travelled ominously well throughout under Johnny Murtagh and shot into the lead passing the furlong marker.
He only had to be kept up to his work to score by three and a quarter lengths from Workforce, who looked green in the home straight and kept on well to fill the runner-up spot, while Chabal was a major disappointment.
A clearly impressed Murtagh said: "They went a good gallop, it was a properly run race. He runs a bit lazy when you get him off the bridle, but when you do ask him he really responds well.
"He's quite tenacious and very brave. He's a big player this lad. This is a very good trial and I've always liked this horse."
Paul Smith, son of Cape Blanco's part-owner Derrick Smith, added: "That was a real trial and we've always thought he was a good horse. We hoped he'd run well and he's now a serious contender (for the Derby). He seemed to stay well.
"Johnny said he travelled well and quickened well and you couldn't be anything but delighted with that."
The runner-up's trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "The bit went through his mouth turning into the straight, which wouldn't have helped him at all. He's only had the one race and is just a big baby. I'm sure he'll be better with some cut in the ground."
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, added: "He's a big baby and has now had a good race. Ryan (Moore) wasn't too disappointed and the ground would be as fast as he'd like."
Frankie Dettori was bitterly disappointed with fourth home Chabal and said: "I can't put my finger on it. He was beaten four out. A good horse like that can't be that far wrong. It's very disappointing as we thought we had a Derby horse. It was too bad to be true."
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