MARAAHEL scooped connections another big pot when landing the Hardwicke Stakes for the second year in succession. Sir Michael Stoute's battle-hardened entire travelled powerfully for Richard Hills and took a length or so out of his field when hitting the front shortly after entering the straight.

Scorpion took a while to hit top gear but looked a massive danger inside the distance as Mick Kinane conjured a sustained drive from Aidan O'Brien's heavilybacked 4-5 favourite. However, Hills had kept a little extra up his sleeve and Maraahel was not for passing, eventually landing odds of 100-30 by half a length. Jane Chapple-Hyam's Mighty ran his usual sound race to claim third, a further two and a half lengths behind the principals.

Stoute was grabbing his first win of the week and admitted: "It's been a bit frustrating, but we are thrilled with this horse and I think he's better than ever as a sixyear-old. We used to have a visor on him, but put blinkers on this year. They seem to have woken him up and he's won three out of four, so we're not going to take them off.

We'll see how he's come out of it and talk to Sheikh Hamdan (before making plans).

We'd love to win a Group One with him one day."

Aidan O'Brien was magnanimous in defeat. "He ran a stormer and it was a very good race, " said the Ballydoyle man. "He was coming home well and was getting there and getting there. He is well entered, including back here in the King George, and we'll go home and discuss plans."

Scorpion was eased to 12-1 from 10s by VC Bet for the midsummer showpiece, while his Hardwicke conqueror Maraahel is now on offer at the same price, having been 25-1 beforehand.

Third-home Mighty potentially has another big race on his agenda. Chapple-Hyam said: "I've taken a gamble and put him and Mudawin in the Melbourne Cup. I'll give him a break now and then bring him back, and start thinking about going to Australia."

Maze showed real determination to land a thrilling victory in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday. Partnered by Royston Ffrench, the Bryan Smart-trained juvenile took up the running shortly after passing the two-furlong pole before fighting off a host of pursuers.

In a race of changing complexion, 11-2 chance Maze had just enough left in the tank to hold off runner-up Pegasus Again by a neck. Back in third, just another neck away, was the Barry Hills-trained 15-8 favourite Feared In Flight.

"This is a smashing horse and he's bred to be a Derby horse, " said Smart afterwards. "To show this speed over the six and seven (furlongs) is great. I think he won on merit and there's a lot to come out of him. Hopefully now you won't see him again until the Racing Post (Trophy) because he's a bit on the leg, but he's a proper horse.