Economics confirmed his potential with a first Group 1 success in the ten-furlong Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The William Haggas-trained colt has been quietly campaigned this season following an emphatic six length rout in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York in May. Connections chose to skip a possible Epsom Derby bid and gave the son of Night Of Thunder time to mature - keeping him off the track until a victory in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville.

Taking on his older counterparts for the first time, Economics was in receipt of an age weight allowance against Aidan O'Brien's Auguste Rodin, second favourite in the market. Drawn wide, jockey Tom Marquand was always sitting confidently aboard the colt, waiting to make a bid. It appeared to be long-term leader Luxembourg who would be the O'Brien runner to pose the biggest problem, but Auguste Rodin came with a late run to push Economics all the way to the line. William Haggas' charge recorded a neck victory over his older rival, with the Japanese raider Shin Emperor finishing a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Tom Marquand, winner jockey, said: "He's not only a very good racehorse, he's a warrior.

"He's very very talented. I had moments where I was worried but he always felt like he was there for it and Auguste Rodin showed up every bit as good (as we expected).

"I was thrilled. There was big calls that were made earlier in the season that were tough to do and justified. He's not only a very good horse, he's an absolute warrior as well - very few horses possess both.

"I changed my plan a few times. I felt like I'd picked up in a nice position and just ended up in a tempo, I wasn't very happy there so I moved on a bit further and he possesses that really nice trait of being able to light up and shut back down. He's turned out to be every bit as good as he is."

Paddy Power reacted to the victory by shortening Economics from 3/1 to 6/4 favourite for the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot.