ULYSSES showed he is getting better with age as he put his younger rivals in the shade to give Sir Michael Stoute a record-breaking sixth success in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Having finished second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last time out, the four-year-old claimed a second top-level success of the season when making a successful switch back to a mile and a quarter, to add to his victory in last month's Coral-Eclipse.

After early leader Cliffs Of Moher faded away, it was dual 2000 Guineas winner Churchill and St James's Palace Stakes hero Barney Roy who traded blows. But an almost motionless Jim Crowley was sitting patiently aboard the son of Gailileo, waiting to pounce and make his move as late as possible.

Hitting the front around a furlong from home, the 4/1 scorer quickly asserted, crossing the line two lengths clear of Churchill, with his old rival Barney Roy back in third.

Crowley said: "He seems to like being ridden with confidence. He is improving and today is the best feel I have got off him to be honest and he seems to be getting better and better.

"I always had plenty of horse. Today he relaxed so nicely and he just lobbed round. When I got there he got there quite soon, I just had to nurse him along to make sure he got there.

"This horse is improving all the time and when the rain came this morning, I knew after Ascot it wouldn't be a problem. I think he is one of those that only does as much as he has to, not in a bad way, but like I said he is a great ride to pick up and I am grateful to be riding him. These are the races when you are champion you want to be winning."

Stoute said: "It all just went so smoothly and there was never a blip. I think it was his best performance to date. York is a different track to Sandown, it's so level, and I never had any worries the way he was travelling.

"I think it's time to give him a break and work backwards from the Breeders' Cup Turf. The owners are keen to go for that. We'll go home and work it out."

RaceBets halved Ulysses in price to 3/1 for the Breeders' Cup Turf, in which he was fourth to Highland Reel last season.

The latter remains the 11-4 favourite, and his trainer Aidan O'Brien said of Churchill: "He ran very well and we are very happy with him. The ground wasn't ideal, but he still ran well."

When asked if he thought he stayed 10 furlongs, O'Brien said "He didn't wilt anyway. It was a great run for his first try at the trip. We knew conditions weren't ideal, but at least he has left Ascot behind him.

"Goodwood (withdrawn from Sussex Stakes following a downpour) messed us up really as we were ready to run there, but you can't do anything about the weather. The Irish Champion Stakes is very possible, but he would have to be very well."

Cracksman finally came of age on the big stage after taking his rivals apart in devastating fashion in the Group 2 Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes.

Five years after his mighty sire Frankel claimed victory in the Juddmonte International, it was the turn of one of his sons to produce the fireworks on the Knavesmire, putting in a display that was visually out of the top drawer in the 12-furlong event.

Although having to be nudged along by Frankie Dettori entering the home straight, the John Gosden-trained three-year-old quickly put the race to bed when hitting the front.

Sent on well over three furlongs out, the 4-6 favourite, who was last seen finishing second in the Irish Derby having previously been third at Epsom, quickly turned the race into a procession. He eventually coasted home an eased-down six-length winner from Venice Beach.

Dettori said: "He has come on a lot. He put up a good performance there because I asked him early enough to get into top gear and stretch them out. The last two furlongs he was galloping right away from the field and I was very impressed.

"He is laid back and you have got to shake him up a bit, otherwise he is happy to follow the others, that's why I got him going plenty early enough. Once he knows it's time to go, he goes.

"We had to get him ready for the Derby. He is such a big horse with a big frame to fill. John gave him the time off to improve and he will be a force to be reckoned with next year."

Fleet Review ran a disappointing race as Wells Farhh Go prevailed in a pulsating finish to the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien's dual Curragh winner was sent off the 9/2 second favourite but after racing handily, found little for pressure and backed out of it two furlongs out.

Needing every inch of the seven-furlong trip, the Tim Easterby-trained 10/1 winner, who made a successful debut over course and distance last month, wore down James Garfield in the dying strides to gain the day by a nose.

Lansky was a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third, but favourite Dee Ex Bee was a major disappointment.

There was early drama in the race, with the Richard Fahey-trained Chief Justice unshipping Paul Hanagan soon after exiting the stalls.

Winning rider David Allan said: "I thought the last stride he just stuck his head down and I thought I just got him on the post, but you never know – when your head is down and you are driving away it's quite hard to tell.

"He has still shown his inexperience a bit there. I thought I had the race won when I hit the front and Frankie (Dettori) burst through and it gave him something to run down again and he dug in again towards the finish.

"He was definitely having a look in front and I think there is more improvement in there, especially when he goes a bit further. He feels like he has got the potential to improve. He is a big horse, so he has got the scope."

Easterby said: "I thought he hadn't quite got there and that I should have run him over a mile. He's in the Royal Lodge and the Group 1 race at Chantilly (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere). Whether we run him or not, I'm not sure. He's a big horse and needs a bit of time.

"I think he might be another Bollin Eric (2002 St Leger winner) – he's not far off. He's just a very good horse in the making. One day he will be a proper horse. He's had a hard race there and I wouldn't be rushing to run him quickly."

Easterby is based locally to the track at Great Habton and relishes a York winner more than most. He said: "It's fantastic. If they are entered here we don't walk the course, they run usually.

"I had a lot of offers for him since his last run and I resisted. I bought him at Tatts Sales as a yearling. He was just a big, nice horse. He showed me a nice bit of speed early on so we waited a bit with him and gave him a chance.

"Next year will be his year and he will be an even better four-year-old. I didn't put him in the Racing Post Trophy. He's out of a Galileo mare, he's got a great temperament and has got it all before him. He's very exciting."