Make You Smile took his record to a perfect two-from-two when coming with a wet sail to get up late in the Group 3 BetVictor Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
A comfortable debut winner over the same course and distance last month, the Hugo Palmer-trained juvenile was sent off a 5/1 chance to take the step up to group company in his stride.
Victory didn't look likely for most of the seven-furlong Group 3 prize, but despite being one of the first horses off the bridle, Make You Smile found plenty in the closing stages to wear down the long-time leader Yargooh, who raced keenly throughout in the hands of Tom Marquand.
The winning margin was a nose, with a further length and a quarter back to the Clive Cox-trained Star Anthem.
"He's a lovely horse," said the Australian-bound jockey Harry Davies when speaking on Sky Sports Racing. "He's never really shown us much at home and I think he surprised us when winning first time out."
"They were similar conditions today but he's a very laid-back type and I think he's done that all on ability. To be honest, in the first half of the race I thought I was beat but once the horses in front of me started to tire, he really motored that last furlong. I think I was the first horse off the bridle, and he was still being educated throughout.
"He has a lot of talent and I'm sure he'll really improve again, but to pick up well on that ground really does take some doing."
Max Vega masters rivals to regain St Simon Stakes crown
Ralph Beckett's remarkable run of form continued when Max Vega defied a lengthy absence to make a successful reappearance in the Group 3 St Simon Stakes at Newbury.
In a contest that looked to revolve around the 4/6 market leader Al Aasy, Max Vega was sent off a relatively unfancied 22/1 under Rob Hornby.
However, just as he did two years ago, he relished the testing conditions to turn away the John and Thady Gosden-trained better-fancied Danielle by a length and three quarters.
Al Aasy smoothed smoothly into contention, but he failed to pick up in the heavy ground and William Haggas' evergreen seven-year-old was ultimately well-held back in third.
"What a fun horse to have and what an honest horse to have," said Hornby speaking on Sky Sports Racing.
"He had his conditions today to have him seen to best effect, he's won this twice now and after 180-something days off the track, that was a great effort from everyone at home.
"He travelled really well from the three to the two (furlong poles), I didn't really have anything to take me into it and he was headed.
"I thought we might be in a bit of trouble, but he dropped down again.
"He can grind them into the ground, and he stays the mile and a half well – he's got a great, willing attitude."
