ONCE again, the Ballydoyle camp celebrated with the exacta in the Dee Stakes, but while Circus Maximus dug deep to fend off Royal Lodge winner Mohawk, from whom he was receiving 5lb, neither took the leap forward in form terms needed to be considered serious classic candidates.

Circus Maximus did plenty under quite an aggressive Ryan Moore ride, and the way he battled after looking vulnerable suggests he will stay further.