Hemingway wrote his name at the top of the list for next year`s Sagitta 2000 Guineas with an impressive display in the opening race of York`s Ebor meeting today.
The colt is as short as 8-1 favourite (William Hill) for the Newmarket Classic after making it two wins from two starts with a convincing display in the Breckenbrough Racing Acomb Stakes.
The 8-13 chance, ridden by Mick Kinane, was in front from the outset in the Listed race and saw off his only serious threat, Eminence, from the furlong pole.
He went on to score by one and a quarter lengths with seven lengths back to the third horse Saratov.
The corresponding event was won last year by subsequent 2000 Guineas winner King`s Best and connections will already be considering that event for Hemingway.
Trainer Aidan O`Brien has a strong hand with Minardi generally second best in the betting for the 2000 Guineas.
Owner Michael Tabor said: 'It`s pleasing to see him win again and hopefully he will improve. It looks like he needed all of the seven furlongs and Minardi is a different type of horse.
'The Derby hasn`t been a successful race so I hope this might be a Derby horse.'
Kinane completed a quick double on Royal Rebel, who followed up his Goodwood Cup success in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Stakes.
But the Irish Champion had to be at his strongest to ensure his mount got the better of fellow 2-1 joint favourite Rainbow High in a desperate finish to the two-mile Group Three contest.
'That was brilliant,' said winning trainer Mark Johnston. 'People talk about doing away with two-mile races but when you see top-class horses fighting out a finish like that it is fantastic.'
Royal Rebel could be thrilling racegoers in Australia this autumn.
'The obvious race for him is the Doncaster Cup but the big question is the Melbourne Cup,' Johnston said.
'It is up to his owner Peter Savill and if he wants to go we will have to modify his programme.'
Savill said: 'Iwant to run this horse in the Melbourne Cup but I don`t know whether it will be this or next year. He is still an immature horse and he has a lot of developing still to do.'
Unlucky horse of the race was third-placed Ski Run, who looked poised to deliver a big challenge when her saddle slipped two furlongs out, forcing Frankie Dettori to ride without irons.
'The filly was going very well at the time and I`m sure she`d have won if this hadn`t happened,' trainer Gerard Butler said of the four-year-old who was beaten only three lengths by the winner.
Dettori was unscathed and returned to ride Barathea Guest in the next race.
