Owned by Steve Parkin, executive chairman of Clipper Logistics, the four-year-old was dropping back to ten furlongs on his return from a nine-week break, and he posted a career-best performance when seeing off impressive Goodwood winner Poet’s Word by a length.

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni and sporting first-time blinkers, Central Square travelled well in fourth as Jamie Spencer and Bermondsey injected some pace into the funereal early gallop.

That pair set sail for home at the top of the straight, but Central Square made up ground effortlessly on the leaders, and it was soon apparent that he, Poet’s Word and the Charlie Appleby-trained Lusory had it between them.

While the three-year-olds loomed large on either flank, Central Square began to assert inside the final furlong. He drifted towards the far rail inside the last 100 yards, but the result was all but sewn up by then, Central Square having defied 9-6 in what is a traditionally warm handicap.

Roger said: “Central Square has responded really well to the blinkers and I thought this was an excellent performance in what looked a good race. He’s going to be rated in three figures now, but he should continue to climb the ranks.

“Congratulations to Steve, who looks to have a thoroughly progressive horse on his hands.”