Millenary received a boost before his challenge for the Rothmans Royals St Leger at Doncaster.
Stable-companion Romantic Affair just prevailed under a tremendous ride from Pat Eddery in the Rothmans Royals Mallard Stakes on Town Moor on Friday.
Turning for home Romantic Affair had only three behind him, but Eddery threaded his way through the field and was seen at his strongest as they got the better of the Michael Kinane-ridden Afterjacko by a head.
Trainer John Dunlop`s travelling head lad Robert Hamilton said: 'It is nice to have a winner here 24 hours before the big one.
'Millenary is in great form, and is the one they all have to beat. He picked up well to win over one and a half miles last time and he beat the favourite Air Marshall so he must have a major chance, though we would prefer a little bit of rain.'
Kinane and David Elsworth, who trains Afterjacko, went one better 65 minutes later and in some style when Lear Spear put up a record-breaking performance in the Listed Amco Corporation Troy Stakes.
John Reid set a strong pace on Blue Gold and when he quickened again approaching the final quarter mile it seemed he might have his rivals in trouble, but Lear Spear responded to Kinane`s encouragement to get on top in the last 150 yards.
King O`The Mana stayed on well and was only half a length adrift in second, just nudging out Blue Gold who kept on very gamely considering the pace he had set.
Lear Spear clocked 2min 29.67sec for the one and a half miles, clipping 0.04sec off the previous best set by Musician 12 months ago, and Elsworth said: 'We are flattered to beat the course record when we were trying to show that he certainly gets one and a half miles.
'When he came back from Dubai in March, he was shouldery and stumped up so he had the spring off and did not come back until August - as a result he has had a light campaign so we may keep him going through the winter and go to Hong Kong again (in December for one of the invitation races).'
Frankie Dettori, who had earlier been successful on Blue Reigns (DBS St Leger Yearling Stakes) and Noverre (thehorsesmouth.co.uk Champagne Stakes), completed a near 60-1 treble when bringing El Gran Papa with a sustained run to take the Fenner Conveyor Belting Challenge Trophy.
El Gran Papa is trained by John Gosden but his success in this #10,000 event will be scant consolation for the late defection of the stable`s Savoire Vivre from tomorrow`s St Leger.
Dettori heads for Leopardstown this afternoon where he rides Godolphin`s Best Of The Bests in the ESAT Digifone Irish Champion Stakes.
