Rip Van Winkle, winner of the Group One Sussex Stakes in his previous start, battled impressively under Johnny Murtagh to beat Zacinto by a length and a quarter in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

“Rip Van Winkle is not just a good horse, he’s a great horse. He’s brave, he stays and his biggest asset is his class and early speed,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “We didn’t run a pacemaker today because he would have had to have been a Group One sprinter to have led them and we don’t have a horse fast enough to do that so it was brilliant that it worked out today with Aqlaam going on. Johnny rode a masterful race on him.

“We’ll really look forward to the Breeders’ Cup Classic with him because he’s a horse that cruises and stays. His preparation was interrupted coming into this and hopefully we’ll get a smooth run through to the Classic.

“Mastercraftsman could also go for the Classic, that will be the owners’ decision, and he may run on Friday at Dundalk in the Group Three Diamond Stakes (part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge). We may also take Septimus out to America and the two-year-old Viscount Nelson, but again it will be the lads’ decision.”

Jockey Johnny Murtagh added: “I think the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be the ideal race for Rip Van Winkle. He’ll love the track at Santa Anita, the distance is right and he has the tactical speed to go round there.”

Meanwhile, trainer Clive Brittain will discuss with Habaayib’s Dubai-based owner Mohammed Al Nabouda about sending the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile heroine to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.

The Singspiel filly was breaking her maiden in today’s Group One contest, having finished a close second in Doncaster’s Group Two May Hill Stakes on her previous start.

“I’ll talk to the owners and if they want to take her to America I’ll see how the filly is, she’ll tell us whether she wants to go,” said Brittain. “She’s gone from one step to the next and never stopped improving. Whatever she does this year, I think the Oaks could be on the cards for her next season.

“We got mugged on the line on her first start in a maiden at Folkestone and I knew she’d improved again but we got caught on the line once again at Doncaster, at least it worked out today.”

Earlier, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Joshua Tree earned a starting position in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf when winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes.

The Montjeu colt had won a maiden at Gowran Park on his debut and today held off Waseet to score by a length an a quarter.

Asked about the possibility of Joshua Tree going to Santa Anita, O’Brien said: “All the races like that are under consideration and come into the equation but we won’t be in a hurry with him. He’s a lovely-moving horse and appreciated the decent ground and pace today.”