William Buick left it late to help John Gosden's Gatewood justify 9-4 favouritism in the Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap at Epsom.
When Jamie Spencer had crept up the inside rail on Ottoman Empire to lead with two furlongs to run it appeared to have been a decisive move as Buick was trapped at the back of the field with nowhere to go.
But Buick switched recent York winner Gatewood into the middle of the course and steadily gathered momentum, pipping Spencer by a neck on the line.
Buick said: "He was slowly away at York and he was slow again, so I left him alone.
"He's done very well to win and he's got quality."
Gosden said: "He was a bit slowly away and he's still a young horse. William was worried he might do that.
"The other boys were a bit cute. They knew he was the favourite and tried to keep him in.
"He's a progressive horse and we'll have to see where he ends up.
"If he sneaked in, the Wolferton Handicap would be his aim at Royal Ascot.
"He's still a handicapper - he's only won by a neck."
Spencer and Buick were, however, suspended two days (June 15-16) for careless riding.
Andrew Balding's well-backed Highland Knight (13-2) refused to yield to Mawaakef in the Investec Mile Handicap.
This time in the saddle was David Probert, who demonstrated expertise and flair on a front-runner, just as he had done on the stable's Highland Colori at Sandown on Thursday evening.
Sporting the second colours of Jeff Smith, Highland Knight was runner-up in this event a year ago but had been below-par on his previous outing at Newbury.
He finished a neck up in a battle with Mawaakef which lasted much of the home straight.
Probert said: "It was a bit soft at Newbury last time and he likes to jump out and enjoy himself.
"He's knuckled down and it was a game performance."
Balding said: "I think he's better on turning track and after he got beaten at Newbury it was always the aim to come here.
"I'm delighted as his dam (Highland Shot) was second in this race and he was second in it last year.
"He's all heart and he thoroughly deserves to win."
Another fine front-running ride came from Amy Ryan on Laffan (7-1) in the Investec Asset Management Handicap although a low key meeting for Frankie Dettori got worse when he was banned two days (June 15-16) for careless riding aboard Famous Poet.
