No Heretic was bred to win an Investec Derby and he managed a passable impression of Camelot in the amateur riders' version at Epsom on Monday.
The Bordeaux Fine Wines Amateur Derby is staged over the same mile and a half as the real thing, albeit for any horse up to 85, and David Simcock's colt was the one potential improver in the field.
A 260,000 guineas purchase by powerful owner Jim Hay, the handsome son of Galileo had made steady progress in his two runs since moving from Paul Cole and had the assistance of Phil Collington, who is Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's retained jockey for Arabian racing.
The 4-1 favourite needed to be bustled along but took off once in front of King's Troop in the final furlong and soon created a gap of three and a half lengths.
"It's nice to ride such a good horse," said Collington, 33.
"I won it in 2010 for Lucinda Featherstone on Maybe I Wont and it's something you always want to win."
Simcock's assistant, Tom Clover, said: "He's a big, good-looking horse who cost a fair bit and he has just got better and better.
"He has only beaten a horse rated 66, but you'd like to think he can go onwards and upwards."
Lyssio (12-1) made a mockery of the figures to defeat a horse rated 22lb superior to him in the Bordeaux Fine Wines Conditions Stakes.
The German recruit, who is trained by Michael Attwater at Tattenham Corner, should have had no chance with Group Three winner Rockinante.
But the pair pulled acres clear of their other two rivals and jockey Mark Coumbe was on the top of his game to thwart Richard Hughes by three-quarters of a length.
"His mark of 83 meant nothing here and I've told everyone he's a good horse," said Attwater.
"I've never seen him look so good and Mark gave him a brilliant ride. He might have one more run on the Flat but we're thinking of schooling him over hurdles now.
"He wouldn't have a heavy campaign, though, as he comes up light after his races."
Hughes, however, looks ever more likely to secure his first jockeys' championship and he put number 105 on the board in the totepool Mobile Text "Tote" To 89660 Handicap.
David Barron's Yorkshire raider Long Awaited (8-1) was caught near the line on his most recent outing at Glorious Goodwood but was delivered with typical panache to score comfortably from 5-1 favourite Fair Value.
"He's a lovely horse. They thought he might not get home today, but he certainly did," said Hughes.
Marcus Tregoning made a brief but successful visit to watch Nile Knight grind out the Epsom & Ewell Borough 75th Anniversary EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
The Sir Percy colt (11-4) was no match for the Group class Olympic Glory at Goodwood, but this was a far easier opportunity to get on the podium.
"He takes quite a while to get going and a bit further will suit him," said the Lambourn trainer.
"I imagine he'll be one for nurseries next."
Something of illustrious stablemate The Cheka seems to have finally rubbed off on Luna Deity (3-1 favourite) as he zipped home in the bfwines.co.uk Handicap.
The Cheka, who runs in the same colours, had achieved yet another Group placing at Goodwood on Sunday.
"He has worked with The Cheka before and he could be nice next year as he's a lovely big horse," said his trainer, Eve Johnson Houghton.
"We won't get too carried away though. We've had a rollercoaster season - one week they all win, and the next they are nowhere - and I don't know why. The poor staff have had to cope with a grumpy boss."
Winning jockey Jimmy Fortune was given a three-day (September 10-12) careless riding ban.
It did not even require a vintage ride from Kieren Fallon to take the Invest In Fine Wines Handicap as Universal (5-2) was well in control of matters.
