Borderlescott teed up his defence of the Nunthorpe Stakes with a characteristically tenacious victory at Glorious Goodwood.
It would not be overstepping the mark to describe the eight-year-old as one of the most popular horses in training, as his enduring appeal has been built from his time served as an honest handicapper, while understated trainer Robin Bastiman has repeatedly shown Group One races can be won by smaller operations.
Stand-in jockey Kieren Fallon delivered Borderlescott to a thrilling half-length defeat of Group Therapy in the Audi King George Stakes and all roads now lead to York, where he will bid to land the Nunthorpe for the third year in a row.
The 9-2 favourite was a close third to Equiano at Royal Ascot and the pair are set for a rematch on the Knavesmire.
Bastiman beamed: ‘He's just an unbelievable horse. You wouldn't know he was a Group horse at home, but he's put a few more horses into our yard. Just a few, though, and we haven't quite been firing of late.
‘He's just getting a bit older and taking a bit longer to wind up, but once he gets wound up he goes.
‘He has a couple of gears, and that's the difference between a Group horse and a handicapper.
‘Equiano is a really gutsy animal, but I can't wait for the Nunthorpe. I think he's better now than ever.’
Borderlescott's usual rider Neil Callan was suspended and Bastiman was asked if Fallon would keep the mount.
‘It's an awkward question and I'll have to talk to the owners,’ he said.
‘I feel sorry for Neil, as he picked up a one-day ban in a Mickey Mouse race.
‘It's a shame for the owner when things like that happen as you need the right man on board. Scotty is very easy but with others, you need that knowledge.’
Jeremy Noseda said of Group Therapy: ‘The draw did not help, but I've no complaints and that is a lifetime best from him.
‘We could have a pop at the Nunthorpe or we may take in the view that we could take in a lesser race and try to get a stakes race into him.’
Ed McMahon was similarly thrilled with third-placed Astrophysical Jet, adding: ‘We've got two options now, the Flying Five at the Curragh or a Group Three race at Longchamp.’
Mark Johnston sets up his stall from North Yorkshire all week and expects to come away with winners but he had to wait until day three and the Moet Hennessy Fillies' Stakes (better known as the Lillie Langtry).
His Eastern Aria (16-1) won a handicap at the meeting last season off a mark of 88 before rounding off with fourth in the EP Taylor Stakes in Canada.
She had taken a while to return to form, but bounded right away under Richard Hills.
‘I've run a lot of my big guns in the handicaps and it's a nice surprise to get my first winner in a Group race instead,’ reflected Johnston.
‘She was the most improved horse in my yard last season and I gave her a lot of big entries, but we ended up having to scrap them.
‘It looks like I'll have to get the programme book out again now.
‘Long term, the Canadian International may be the plan.’
Beachfire (9-1) is a real slow-burner in terms of the time he takes to gather momentum but he continued his progression with a tight verdict over Right Step in the TurfTV Summer Vase Handicap.
Jockey William Buick said: ‘He doesn't make life easy for himself.
‘He does it the way he wants to do it and as long as he keeps winning that's good enough for me.’
Gosden expects Beachfire will continue over longer distances.
Richard Hannon claimed his 200th Goodwood winner through Kalahaag (9-2), who built on an encouraging Newbury debut in the EBF New Ham Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
‘She didn't break too well at Newbury but was finishing really well,’ said Hannon.
‘She's in some of the Million races, so we'll look at those.’
