SOVEREIGN Debt proved he is no back-number with a thrilling victory in the Ganton Stakes at York today.

Having enjoyed much of his career with the late David Nicholls, the nine-year-old grey joined Easingwold trainer Ruth Carr at the start of last season and won the All-Weather Mile at Lingfield, the bet365 Mile at Sandown and Diomed Stakes at Epsom to stretch his career tally to 14 victories.

His three previous efforts this season, including a fourth-placed finish when defending his Diomed crown a fortnight ago, suggested the nine-year-old may be past his best.

However, he roared back to form on the Knavesmire, tracking the pacesetting 5-6 favourite Arod for much of the one-mile journey before getting up late to prevail by a neck under James Sullivan.

Carr said: "That was great. He really battles. Once he gets in an eyeballing finish he takes some beating.

"It panned out how we hoped it would pan out. We took a lead off the favourite, Jimmy gave him a lovely ride and it's great to have a winner at York for a local yard.

"He's not going to get any better at his age, but I could kind of make a case for him today. He's an older horse and he's a big horse who takes some getting fit. If you write his run at Windsor off we've been stepping up nicely.

"He ended up in front a bit too soon at Epsom, but maybe that run just put him another step closer."

Contemplating future plans, the trainer told Racing UK: "I've been looking at Listed races. There's one at Windsor but I wasn't that keen to go back there.

"We've put him in a race at Leopardstown (Meld Stakes, July 19) and there's also the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot in mid-July and a Listed race at Pontefract, so there's a few options."