Grand marvel Quechua showed there is still plenty of fight left in the old bull, when taking out Sunday's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Much like when War Affair dead-heated for first in the SAAS Fee Stakes [1400m], you couldn't help but cheer the grand stayer home, clinching his third Group 1 victory.

While not at the same level of War Affair, Quechua has been a distinct model of consistency and has also ventured overseas, flying the Singapore flag against some of the world's best.

Originally trained by Patrick Shaw (now with Ricardo Le Grange), Quechua placed in his first 15 starts in Singapore, including five wins.

Quechua first failed to miss the placings in the 2015 Singapore Gold Cup [2200m], where he was very gallant with the big weight, finishing fifth behind Cooptado.

He collected his first success at the top level in the 2014 Singapore Gold Cup [2200m], before going on to defeat War Affair in the 2015 Singapore Derby [2000m].

Sunday's contest was the seventh time the pair had met, with the ledger now in Quechua's favour - 4:3.

Although mixing his form since, Quechua is no question a talent and Ricardo Le Grange certainly had him back at his best on the weekend.

Unseen since being safely held in Dubai, Le Grange produced Quechua first up, an impressive training feat as while placed fresh, he had never won under these circumstances.

In Quechua's favour was the fact he had never missed the money over 1800m and was well placed under the weight-for-age conditions.

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Quechua enjoyed a lovely run in transit, settled fifth along the rail.

Clearly appreciating the solid tempo set by Laughing Gravy, Quechua always travelled sweetly and loomed ominously when working his way off the fence on straightening.

Pulled one of the widest runners, Quechua began to get into his work, setting out after Laughing Gravy.

Stablemate Storm Troops shaped as a big danger on the outside, before Quechua asserted his dominance.

Hitting the front inside the 200m, Quechua began to pull away from his rivals, scoring easily by two lengths.

Marked up to his career peak, Quechua is now the highest rated winner of the QEII Cup [1800m] with second placegetter and last year's winner Laughing Gravy also back to his best.

Quechua simply proved a class above and remains one of the best, if not the best stayer in Singapore.

Under handicap conditions Quechua faces an uphill battle, but under weight for age conditions, he is certainly hard to beat.

Sunday's performance was his best under new trainer Ricardo Le Grange, as he now appears to have found the key to him.

If able to maintain that level of form, he is certainly going to be hard to beat within the staying ranks.