ROYAL Meeting became trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s second Group 1-winning two-year-old this month, and a second for sire Invincible Spirit this weekend, when landing the Criterium International at Chantilly.

Coming straight from a debut success at Yarmouth nearly six weeks ago, the Invincible Spirit colt took the big step up to the top level in his stride with a game display to strike for Godolphin in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.

Frankie Dettori was keen to take Kessaar to the front but John Gosden’s Mill Reef winner had nothing left at the business end.

Hermosa made a bold bid under Ryan Moore but the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly could not hold off Royal Meeting, who followed up his stablemate Royal Marine’s success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere to get the verdict by three-quarters of a length.

Royal Meeting earned a quote of 25/1 for the Qipco 2000 Guineas with Paddy Power.