Owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Masaarr won a Doncaster handicap earlier in the campaign prior to posting a creditable performance in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. With his sights lowered here and blinkers applied for the first time, the son of Distorted Humor delivered a striking late challenge to mow down the Charlie Appleby-trained First Contact by a short neck, with a further two lengths back to Simon Crisford’s Red Mist back in third.

A flashy chestnut with more white markings than some might care for, Masaarr sat midfield from his wide draw in stall eight, settling beautifully under the Belgian maestro as the decent early gallop was steadied heading into the bend.

The pace began to quicken as the eleven-strong field fanned into the home straight and Masaarr was switched outside to ensure a clean run through, picking up with alacrity before getting up close home to secure a first prize of just shy of £25,000 and set himself up for a tilt at Pattern company moving forward.

Roger said: “Masaarr has always worked like a good horse and I am pleased he has managed to win at Listed level. He picked up really nicely in the first-time blinkers and he looks capable of further progress over this trip, particularly when granted a stronger pace to chase.”