ULYSSES further justified Sir Michael Stoute's high regard for him with a flawless display in the Juddmonte International on day one of the Ebor Festival at York.

The four-year-old has been a slow burner, but was very much a work in progress last season, for despite running in the Derby, he was far from the finished article and was beaten in a Group Three race at Windsor 12 months ago.

It has been a different story this term, with a hard-fought victory in the Coral-Eclipse and a highly creditable second to brilliant filly Enable in the King George at Ascot, giving away lots of weight.

The 4-1 chance showed he had improved again, absolutely cruising in behind as the three-year-olds Barney Roy and Churchill battled it out for the lead from two furlongs out.

Once let down by champion jockey Jim Crowley, he surged clear to win by two lengths from market leader Churchill who was a neck in front of Barney Roy, who had been so narrowly denied by Ulysses in the Eclipse at Sandown.

Stoute was winning the race for the sixth time, and said: "They have all been special, but I particularly enjoyed this as we've got very fond of this horse. It all just went so smoothly and there was never a blip. I think it was his best performance to date.

"He is taking his races so well, he's got everything. I think it's time to give him a break and work backwards from the Breeders' Cup Turf (in which he was fourth last year). The owners are keen to go for that. We'll go home and try to do it right.

"He's thoroughly professional now and he goes on any ground. He's a top-class horse.

"I wasn't concerned about the ground, but I would have loved to see him on top of the ground. He's got a lovely action."

Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos family said: "It was a great performance by the horse and a superb ride by Jim.

"We'd like to go for the Breeders' Cup so we will work the programme back and see what Sir Michael would like to do."

Ladbrokes, RaceBets and Paddy Power quoted Ulysses at 3-1 for the Breeders' Cup and he was cut to 3-1 for the Irish Champion Stakes with the latter.

Ulysses' win was a bonus for the John Gosden-trained Enable ahead of the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, while her stablemate Cracksman put up an awesome display when winning the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes.

Running for the first time since being beaten a neck in the Irish Derby, the son of Frankel fairly destroyed the opposition, with the 4-6 favourite romping home by six lengths from Venice Beach under Frankie Dettori.

Though he could run once again this season, connections do not want to jeopardise his four-year-old career.

"He may run again this year, but the main focus is next year which is what it's about with the King George and those races," said Gosden.

"He was only a shell of a horse earlier in the season. Ascot (Champion Stakes) and the Arc are the only two possibilities this year. And they are only possibilities, not probabilities.

"He's got more stronger and positive in himself. He ran brave races in the Epsom and Irish Derbys, but he's getting better all the time."

Cracksman was quoted at 9-1 for the Arc with Ladbrokes, while Coral had him at 8-1 second-favourite behind his stablemate Enable, the market leader at even money.

Tim Easterby believes he has a potential Group One horse in Wells Farhh Go (10-1) after the two-year-old took his unbeaten record to two with a last-gasp win in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.

It was only in the last stride he got past James Garfield to claim the Group Three honours in the hands of David Allan.

Easterby said: "He's in the Royal Lodge and the Group One race at Chantilly (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere). Whether we run him or not I'm not sure. He's a big horse and needs a bit of time.

"He's just a very good horse in the making. One day he will be a proper horse. He's had a hard race there and I wouldn't be rushing to run him quickly. I had a lot of offers for him since his last run and I resisted.

"Next year will be his year and he will be an even better four-year-old. He's got a great temperament and has got it all before him. He's very exciting."

Allan was hit with a seven-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level and fined £700.