Illinois began his season in the best possible fashion with a gritty success in the Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes at Chester.
A Royal Ascot winner in the Queen's Vase last year, he was also second in the Grand Prix de Paris and the St Leger.
He was giving weight away to some decent rivals due to a penalty picked up in France on his final outing but Ryan Moore was thankful to Sam James for coming off the rail on the pace setting Al Qareem.
That allowed Illinois (6-5 favourite) to sneak up his inside and lead into the straight, but once there he thought he had done enough and Absurde and Al Qareem began to come back at him.
However, Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old was kept up to his work to beat the rallying Al Qareem by a length and a quarter to ensure the Ballydoyle handler had won all four major races on the opening two days of the meeting.
Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick, said: "That was very pleasing, he's a lovely horse and very versatile.
"I was just talking to Aidan there and you could drop him back in trip for the Coronation Cup or you could step him up for Cup races – he’d do whatever you want for you.
"He’s a big, strong animal so he will improve for the run. Ryan was very happy, he was waiting at the bend for something to take him there and they didn’t, so he had to go and he was just playing around in front at the end.
"He won two Group Twos last year and carried the penalty today, so he’s a proper horse."
On Moore’s performance in the saddle, riding four O’Brien-trained winners in two days, Smith added: "He’s a cool customer and it’s like when you see Roger Federer play tennis – it looks effortless and that is the way he rides his horses.
"He never panics and there’s always more time with Ryan Moore than you think."
Speaking from his Ballydoyle base, O’Brien said: "We’re looking forward to Illinois this year. Physically he’s changed into a four-year-old, which is great.
"We thought this was a nice place to start him and he could go back (in trip) for the Coronation at Epsom, so we’ll see how he is but it is very possible that he could.
"He looks a real mile-and-a-half horse who stays the trip very well. He’s a big, straightforward horse and I was delighted with him today."
Mount Kilimanjaro came from the clouds to provide Aidan O'Brien with yet another win in the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes at Chester.
O’Brien is now the leading trainer in the race’s history, and this was his seventh win in eight renewals.
While none of his winners have gone on to follow up at Epsom, this son of Siyouni is now a general 20-1 chance for the blue riband Classic.
As Great David came over from a wide draw to lead the field at a strong pace, Ryan Moore was some way off the gallop.
He looked to have a mountain to climb as they turned into the straight, with High Stock taking over at the head of affairs, but the even-money favourite got going late on to win by a neck.
O'Brien said: "Ryan gave him a great ride.
"We always thought a mile and a quarter would suit him well. Earlier on in the year our plan was to run him in Dubai in their Derby.
"That was why we ran him at Dundalk when we did, but it was all coming too quickly so he didn’t go, he just got tired in Dundalk and that is why he hasn’t run since then.
"He’s very comfortable at 10 furlongs, that is as far as he’s been today on the grass, but when he ran in France last year behind Twain on heavy ground over a mile he looked like he was getting the trip well, so there’s every chance he could get further.
"I think it will either be France or Epsom with him, there’s still a lot than can happen over the next few days."
