Owned by Sultan Ahmad Shah, the three-year-old has run some fine races in defeat this season, most notably when sixth in the Edinburgh Cup in May, a race that has now produced seven subsequent winners.

Sporting a pair of blinkers having been gelded following his third-place finish at Bath, West Drive found himself in a super rhythm at the head of affairs, with Andrea dictating an even tempo heading into the top bend.

The pace increased passing through the half-mile marker, and one-by-one West Drive’s rivals found themselves coming under the pump.

The John Gosden-trained Vermeulen emerged as a threat on the far rail, but after a protracted dual down the Windsor home straight, West Drive got the better of the argument and asserted to win by a length.

Roger said: “West Drive has run well in defeat this year and he deserved to get his head in front. The blinkers seemed to have made the difference and Andrea got him into a super rhythm.

“Hopefully he will prove competitive in handicaps now and he looks as if he will stay a bit further as well.”