Jockey William Buick feels "very privileged" to be Jack Hobbs' companion as the Classic-winning colt takes the final step towards the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Kempton on Saturday.
Rather than head to Longchamp for an Arc trial next weekend, trainer John Gosden will instead use the totescoop6 September Stakes as preparation for the main event on 4 October.
Runner-up to stablemate Golden Horn in the Epsom Derby, the Godolphin-owned son of Halling went one better in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh with a spectacular five-length victory.
Connections are unruffled by the prospect of Jack Hobbs competing on Kempton's all-weather surface, with Buick adamant the mile-and-a-half September Stakes is a more logistically suitable assignment than successive visits to France.
He said: "He's done very well for his break since the Irish Derby and it's a nice step for him before the Arc.
"He doesn't have to travel all the way to France to have a run.
"Kempton is only down the road and it's a level, even surface - a surface which he trains on most days.
"I think it's a very good idea and he's in good shape.
"The Prix Niel for the three-year-olds and the Prix Foy for older horses are fantastic prep races, being around Longchamp and over the same trip (as the Arc), but when you come from England you have to travel all the way there and then come back again three weeks later.
"It is an ask, especially for three-year-olds. I think it can only help the horse the way John has chosen to do it.
"He's been pleasing everybody at home. He's always going to be a horse for the long term and I think physically he's done very well for the break.
"There's no question about it, he's a very exciting horse and I feel very privileged to ride a horse like him," the jockey told At The Races.
With Jack Hobbs likely to be very short odds for the Kempton Group Three, trainer Ed Walker accepts Mutatis Mutandis has it all to do.
The four-year-old grey won the Nottinghamshire Oaks in June and was only beaten three lengths in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh - despite having made a slow start.
Mutatis Mutandis was also lackadaisical from the stalls in a Group Two back at the Curragh a month later, but Walker is fairly optimistic that unwanted issue has now been resolved.
The Newmarket handler said: "It's going to be very tough against Jack Hobbs.
"If Jack Hobbs brings his A-game to the table, then we will be up against it, but if he doesn't, we are hopefully going to be knocking on the door.
"We know Mutatis Mutandis is a very good filly, but her last two runs at the Curragh, when she was reluctant to come out of the gates, came out of the blue.
"We've been to Lingfield for a barrier trial and that went well, so this is a confidence-booster to see if she still wants to jump (out of the stalls) and race.
"I think her optimum trip is 10 (furlongs), but I don't think there will be a frantic pace and Jack Hobbs might even have to make his own running - unless the Mark Johnston horse (Fire Fighting) goes forward.
"If she shows a good attitude and runs well, then hopefully the plan is to go to the EP Taylor at Woodbine in Canada."
Hughie Morrison saddles Arab Dawn, a Royal Ascot winner but disappointing in the Ebor at York, and four-year-old filly Sweeping Up.
The field is completed by the Ralph Beckett-trained Niceofyoutotellme and William Knight's Aussie Reigns.
