Order Of St George rubber-stamped his Ascot Gold Cup claims with victory in the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.
Aidan O'Brien's Irish St Leger winner is ante-post favourite for the grand old race at the Royal meeting and did little to dampen enthusiasm in this Listed race over a mile and three-quarters.
Runner-up Fact Or Folklore made most of the running, but the 2-7 favourite breezed into the lead inside the final furlong to collect by four and a half lengths under Donnacha O'Brien.
Joseph O'Brien, the winning trainer's son and assistant, said: "The most important thing was that he settled, and he settled really well.
"Donnacha said he was always happy and just gave him a little squeeze when he straightened up.
"Dad was a bit worried about his fitness, and he had to come here if he was going to Ascot.
"Donnacha said he handled the ground well, and he won on it at Down Royal last year.
"I don't think the ground is a big thing for him, he's handled soft and he's handled it quick. He's just a good horse."
O'Brien later claimed the other Listed race on the card when The Major General won the King George V Cup.
Michael Hussey's partner was the supposed Ballydoyle third string in the race, but he belied sizeable odds of 11-1 to defeat stablemate Claudio Monteverdi by half a length.
Donnacha O'Brien was aboard Claudio Monteverdi, but the young jockey hardly had a bad night after he secured a maiden treble.
War Decree, Cockatoo Island and Udogo also won to give O'Brien five winners on the card.
