Second Step and Telescope could cross swords again at Royal Ascot after fighting out a thrilling finish to the Dunaden at Overbury Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Telescope placed at the highest level on more than one occasion last term - including when second in the King George to Taghrooda - and was sent off the 8-13 favourite to land this 12-furlong heat.
All appeared to be going to plan as Ryan Moore pushed Telescope to the front with two furlongs to run and he soon put daylight between himself and his three rivals.
However, Second Step (7-1) set out in pursuit for trainer Luca Cumani and jockey Andrea Atzeni and as Telescope's stride began to shorten approaching the line, he swept through to steal the win by a head.
Cumani said: "He won a Listed race at the backend last year in Ireland very well. In the spring he showed me he had improved further, so I thought maybe we could go Group racing with him.
"I would not really have chosen this race had there been an easier opportunity for him - but there wasn't one.
"Andrea gave him a super ride. On a scale of one to 10, it was easily a 10.
"Maybe something like the Hardwicke Stakes may be on the agenda, but it is difficult to say. We will go away and have a think."
Goldream took the step up to Group Three company in style as he landed the Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes.
Robert Cowell's charge acquitted himself well in handicaps last year but he appeared to have a tougher challenge as he switched to Pattern company for the first time.
However, the 5-1 chance was always travelling nicely for Martin Harley and when asked to go about his business, Goldream pulled a length and a quarter clear of the staying-on Justice Day, with Cowell's popular veteran Kingsgate Native third.
Cowell said: "He's a grinder. He went through the handicapping system last year, but he's a good horse who just had to learn how to properly sprint. We've had to teach how to be up there on the bridle, not to necessarily switch off at the back, and then go for it.
"To win those big sprint races you need to be near the front, and the key to him is fast ground. We always thought we would be stepping into this kind of company and I'm pleased with that.
"We entered him for the King's Stand and his work has been pretty damn good. He will go for the Temple Stakes at Haydock next, where he will no doubt take on Kingsgate Native again. Providing he runs well there he'll go for the King's Stand."
Best Of Times (9-4 favourite) staked his Classic claims with an impressive success in the Listed Harbour Watch Newmarket Stakes.
Saeed bin Suroor's charge had to work hard in the closing stages for James Doyle but managed to repel the last-gasp challenge of Balios by half a length.
Bin Suroor said: "He ran well, but he needed the race, as he was carrying a lot of condition and was only about 85 per cent fit.
"He's a really nice horse and has always worked well in the morning, we'll keep our options open, but the Dante could be our next step while he could be our Derby horse."
Henry Candy has high hopes for Twilight Son (11-10 favourite) after his comfortable two-length verdict over Desert Son in the Charm Spirit At Tweenhills Handicap in fine style.
The trainer said: "Dane O'Neill said he did not like that ground at all, although he did lengthen when he met the rising ground.
"He was only a little horse last year, but he has grown and grown. We will take it easy the first half of the year, as he would not want to run on that sort of ground too often and that is why he has no fancy entries.
"You would like to think he could make up into a Group horse, but he has got a long way to go, both mentally and physically."
Richard Hughes delivered Balty Boys with a perfectly-timed challenge to win the Makfi Suffolk Stakes at odds of 8-1 for trainer Brian Ellison.
Mutasayyid obliged favourite-backers at odds of 9-4 in the closing Qipco Supports Racing Welfare Handicap, holding off 20-1 shot Gibeon by a nose.
Winning trainer Richard Hannon said: "He's a horse we've liked a lot, but he'd been off the track a long time so that was a good performance.
"Hopefully he might be a Britannina horse, as Paul (Hanagan) thinks he will be better on a flat track."
