Nathaniel produced a tremendous performance on his first run of the year to land a thrilling Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Sharply away from the stalls, the John Gosden-trained King George winner (7-2) was always in the perfect position under a confident William Buick as he tracked the pacesetting City Style.

Sent on fully three furlongs out, Nathaniel found plenty for pressure to repel the strong challenge of 11-4 favourite Farhh by half a length without ever looking likely to be caught, while Twice Over, the winner in 2010, ran a terrific race to finish third.

Buick said: "I have to say that was a fantastic training performance. To get the horse here in the shape he was in, all credit to John. He's got real quality and he showed today what a good horse he is. I have always had a lot of faith in this horse. He showed his versatility today."

Nathaniel was cut to 5-2 from 9-2 for the King George at Ascot on July 21 by Paddy Power, but Gosden is wary of the short time between the two races.

He said: "He's a super horse, but it has been very difficult to get him right as he has had a respiratory problem. It's two weeks to the King George and that's not great. He's put in a massive effort here, so we will just have to have a good think about whether we run again.

"It will be fun to take on Frankel once more, as there was only half a length between them in a maiden a long time ago. The Juddmonte (International) would be an option, as would the Champion Stakes at the end of the year."

Nathaniel was winning less than an hour after his full-sister Great Heavens took the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock in the same colours, with Trade Commissioner also obliging at Sandown for the same connections. Gosden said: "It's been a great day for all the staff, especially the owners. Three winners and they bred them all."

Farhh's trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "He travelled very well all the way but was beaten by a better horse today. There is no plan but we will keep to Group One races at the same distance."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Twice Over's owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He had been freshened up and has run a blinder. We were very pleased." He added of the fourth-placed Cityscape: "He didn't quite stay after travelling very well through the race. We could look at something like the Jacques le Marois."