Tim Pitt's gelding, 11th in the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday, landed the Group One spoils at 33-1 in the hands of John Egan. Balthazaar's Gift came from another parish to finish second, a neck in arrears, while King's Stand hero Takeover Stand lost nothing in defeat in third - two lengths further back.

Australian raider Takeover Target appeared set fair for a famous sprint double after travelling fluently once edging over to the stands side from stall 13.

But the winner, owned by football agent Willie McKay, found a delightful split on the rail which enabled Egan to kick on a furlong from home.

Balthazaar's Gift was anchored to the rear of the field for most of the race but responded magnificently to Jamie Spencer's urgings and only went down by the narrowest of margins.

Takeover Target failed to replicate the heroics of compatriot Choisir three years ago by winning the King's Stand and the Golden Jubilee but still emerged with plenty of credit - despite running out of puff when it mattered.

Egan, bagging his second Royal winner of the week, said: "I heard on the commentary there was one (Balthazaar's Gift) coming up and I panicked slightly that he was going to come and do me.

"He's a fantastic horse and was useful over a mile and a quarter. We used to think he was a bit quirky because he never got there but five, six and even seven furlongs seem to suit him a lot better.

"Tim's got a great team and I'm sure he'll go from strength to strength."

In the day's other races, Baltic King came with a rattling late run on the stands rail to win the Wokingham Stakes.

Firenze looked like getting up under Jamie Spencer but the 10-1 winner, trained by Hughie Morrison and ridden by Jimmy Fortune, had other ideas and swept to a going-away oneand-a-half-length victory.

Bahamian Pirate came third with Borderlescott in fourth.

Maraahel landed the Hardwicke Stakes, working through the field before seizing the initiative half a furlong out to come home at 9-2.

Richard Hills produced a fine piece of riding to cross the line with a head to spare from his staying-on stablemate Mountain High, the 72 favourite. Enforcer came third in the Group Two contest, one and a half a lengths further in arrears.

Michael Jarvis took a win with Champlain in the Chesham Stakes. The 7-2 second favourite held off Aidan O'Brien's Country Song with Middleham in third place.

Young Mick was victorious in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. The 28-1 shot won by a head from the favoutite Glistening, withPalomar following them home in third.