Wise Approach overcame a tardy beginning to get up late in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Trained by Charlie Appleby in the royal blue of Godolphin, Wise Approach arrived at racing headquarters as the 11/8 market leader following his excellent third-place finish in the Prix Morny at Deauville last month.

However, those that had took the 11/8 would have been close to ripping up their ticket when Wise Approach gave himself an uphill task by stumbling out of the stalls.

But such was his dominance, he travelled powerfully back into contention by William Buick, who opted to switch his mount to the far side to make his challenge on the sizeable Brussels.

Brussels and Coppull, who was fairly thundering home on the near side rail, came close together in the final furlong, but all the while, Wise Approach was going about his business quietly on the far side.

He kept on strongly up the hill to hit the front late on before moving clear for what would ultimately be a decisive three-quarter length success. The stewards' took a look at the contact between the second and third placed horses, but the placings remained unaltered, with Brussels filling the runner-up spot ahead of Coppull.

Appleby, who was winning the race for the third time, said of the winning son of Mehmas: "The plan was to drop in and he did! All joking apart, we never expected to stumble but the plan was to drop in.

"I felt in the Morny that William gave him a great ride, but I did feel that when he kicked on, he was electrifying and then just pulled up in front. So, I said to William to put him there on the line today. He did that but it wasn't an easy watch! Full credit to William and the horse. I am delighted.

"He has got an engine and given us glimpses before. He won his maiden impressively. Me and York don't seem to go together but at Ascot we told William to hold him up and we won the race on our side.

"The horse has got stronger and here we are today. We are delighted.

"He is battle-hardened and by Mehmas. He is a half-brother to a good sprinter (Group 1 winner Perfect Power).

"I'd say that will be it for the year, but we'll see what the team wants to do.

"The Commonwealth Cup will be the plan next season."