He was very easy to back but ran a cracking race to finish second behind warm favourite Pether’s Moon, who lost ground briefly in the straight but came through to lead against the far rails and went away to score by just over a length for Richard Hughes at 11/10.

It was the best possible start for favourite backers and fitting reward for the winner, who has never been out of the first three this term.

As the race developed in the straight, Battle Of Marengo dropped away but Quest For Peace, back with Luca Cumani, came with a steady run on the outside.

He could not go on as the winner asserted and it was left to Encke to keep on willingly for second. His next appearance will be very interesting indeed.

“He’s done it very well in the end, but we’ll have to put something on his head at some stage,” Hughes said of Pether’s Moon. “He’s not ungenuine at all but he’s a bit lazy. Encke has run a great race and class will always tell but he probably just needed the race, whereas my lad was very fit. The owners are thinking about the Melbourne Cup and we’ll have to see. He deserved this today, though.”

Charlie Appleby was understandably delighted with Encke, who looked magnificent if just in need of the run.

“I’ll speak with Sheikh Mohammed and see where we want to go,” he said. “Ideally he wants to step up to a mile and three-quarters and the Irish St Leger is possible, or the Grand Prix de Deauville.”

There were only six runners in the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes but it developed into a rough race, with John Gosden’s Wannabe Yours needing to be switched quite dramatically to come around his rivals and deny Hors De Combat.

The bitter disappointment was Richard Hannon’s 2000 Guineas fourth Shifting Power, who flattered when leading in the straight but found very little as the barging match began.

Rapprochement led with Shifting Power tracking him but it was Hors De Combat who found a change of gear to lead and go clear at one point. Meanwhile, Wannabe Yours, having only his fifth outing in public, seemed to be in a pocket on the rails but William Buick still had time to get him out and gain the day. Third-placed Bow Creek, who met trouble, should not be underestimated.

This was another example of Gosden’s ability to raise a horse in class without a hint of tilting at windmills.“We just got trapped on the inside and I had to come round so he’s made hard work of it but he’s learning very quickly. There’s more to come,” said Buick.

Jimmy Fortune was soon brought him down to earth with a nine-day suspension for misuse of the whip and continuing to use it after passing the line. To say the jockey was put out would be an understatement but he was soon smiling again as the aptly-named J Fortune came fast and late to catch warm favourite Muteela in the Group 3 L’Ormarins Queens Plate Stakes over seven furlongs.

Mark Johnston was widely quoted as saying Muteela was his best chance of the week and when Joe Fanning turned for home with a handy lead it looked as if his optimism was justified. The unbeaten filly did nothing wrong but, while the others struggled to go with her, J Wonder came with a strong late run on the outside to get up inside the final furlong and score at 7/1.

Brian Meehan thought it worth running J Wonder at Group 1 level in the French 1000 and the Coronation Stakes (seventh both times) and she came right back to her best here. “There is the Matron Stakes, the Sun Chariot and the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland has also been mentioned,” the trainer said. “There are all sorts of options.”

Henry Candy’s 7/1 shot Son Of Africa was an all-the-way winner of a competitive nursery, holding on to beat 11/4 favourite Markaz. Sea The Stars is siring winners across the board and his gelded son Tall Ship ran out a clear-cut winner of the closing handicap in the hands of David Probert.