John and Sean Quinn’s hardy sprinter Jm Jungle proved he was capable of stepping up to group company when running out a gutsy winner of the King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

A regular on the sprint handicap scene, Jm Jungle has been a model of consistency throughout the season, winning the Epsom Dash on Derby Day as well as finishing the frame on his other five outings.

Stepping up to group level for the first time on the back of a solid third-place finish in the Listed John Smith's City Of Wall Stakes, Jm Jungle was a 14/1 shot in the hands of regular rider Jason Hart.

The field quickly split into two groups, with Jason Hart keen to make plenty of use of his far side rail draw in stall one, while the likes of Night Raider, Kerdos and Khaadem occupied the near side.

As the camera switched approaching the final furlong, it became clear that those on the far side had the clear advantage. A whole host of horses were still in with a shout passing the furlong marker but with Jason Hart in full cry, Jm Jungle continued to answer his every call, staying on grimly in the final stages to see off a late thrust from the Irish raider She's Quality.

The winning distance was a gutsy neck; with She's Quality finishing half a length in front of the Harry Eustace-trained Commonwealth Cup scorer Time For Sandals.

"He's a very, very good horse and I'm a little bit lost for words, to be honest," said John and Sean Quinn, who trains the horse in partnership with his father John.

"I suppose once he got north of 100, dad and I decided rather than let him hardships in handicaps off top weight, we might as well throw our hat in the ring. Sometimes the sprint division can be open, and this year looks exactly that.

"He's so effective on downhill tracks as well – he's won here and at Epsom – and we were always going to have a crack at this race because of the excellent prizemoney on offer."

On future plans, the thriving five-year-old son of Bungle Inthejungle looks set to return to York for the Nunthorpe Stakes, while a trip to France for the Prix de l'Abbaye also remains a distinct possibility.

Sean Quinn, who was acting as assistant trainer to his father when their star sprinter Highfield Princess struck in the race two years ago, added: "Jason (Hart) said early in the season that the race he would love to ride him in would be the Nunthorpe, simply because of how fast they go and how much he likes York.

"It looks the natural next step because he is a Group 2 winner now, so you want to be going up from there.

"We put him in the Abbaye earlier in the week and that's a similar race. You get a good draw up the rail and you see how much speed he has – he'd be in that van early doors.

"It was easier watching Highfield Princess because she never looked like getting beat. I was hoping, willing for the line to come in the last furlong today but it did, and he toughed it out. The second came to him and I think he went again."