Kevin Ryan's Masamah won his second big race of the season at York in a blanket finish for the John Smith's City Walls Stakes.
Winner of a valuable handicap on the Knavesmire in May, the five-year-old has always had plenty of speed but can have the odd off day.
Stepped back up to Listed company, he slightly missed the kick but Phillip Makin did not panic and produced him to score close home by a neck and a nose from Amour Propre and the consistent Hamish McGonagall.
"It worked out lovely," said Ryan after the 9-2 success. "Stepping up in class it can be hard to make all, so the fact he missed the kick might have helped him.
"He's improving fast, but we'll give him a break before we think of his next race."
Richard Fahey enjoyed another bumper Saturday with the victory of Brae Hill in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket and Majestic Myles winning a Listed race at Chester, and he very rarely leaves York without a winner.
His newcomer Ladys First (11-2), a 100,000 euro purchase, showed a smart turn of foot to beat odds-on favourite Discression by a length and a half under Paul Hanagan in the John Smith's Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
"She only did her first bit of work four weeks ago and we think a fair bit of her," said Fahey's assistant Robin O'Ryan.
It will have been scant consolation for William Buick after missing the mount on Dream Ahead in the July Cup at Newmarket, but he partnered Norman Orpen to victory in the John Smith's Racing Stakes at York.
Buick was claimed by his boss John Gosden to ride Beachfire in the big race, the John Smith's Cup, and it meant missing a Group One winner as he was the regular partner of Dream Ahead.
As usual, Snow Bay tried to make all and appeared to have everything else beaten, but Jane Chapple-Hyam's four-year-old (14-1) just found more inside the final furlong to win by a neck.
Buick said: "I always thought I was going to get there. He's very tough, but so is the second horse."
On missing out at Newmarket, he added: "I'm just pleased for the team, it's great for everyone at David Simcock's."
Tim Easterby is a trainer who loves nothing more than winners on the Knavesmire and Last Bid (11-4 favourite) provided him with one more in the John Smith's Sprint (Nursery).
Placed on her first two starts, she won at Ripon last time out and followed up in determined style from Kool Henry by half a length.
Saucy Brown (10-1) was never far off the pace in the John Smith's Stakes and stayed on dourly through the final furlong to hold on for a half-length success from Hotham for Dandy Nicholls and Paul Quinn.
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