Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh warmed up for Frozen Fire's assault on the Ladbrokes St Leger as Honolulu provided the duo with a second consecutive success in the National Express Doncaster Cup on Town Moor.
The trainer-jockey combination have tomorrow's Classic in their sights, with the Irish Derby winner set to start favourite, and were again the toast of punters as Honolulu scored as the 15-8 market leader.
Royal And Regal took no prisoners in the stayers' test when bowling along in front from the outset.
But O'Brien's Queen Alexandra winner has bundles of stamina and put it to good use by pegging back Royal And Regal and staying on to collect by four lengths.
Balkan Knight came through to pip the front-runner for second, with half a length separating the pair.
Murtagh said: "He's a lovely horse and won well.
"He's been working well, has improved and Aidan has been delighted with him."
David Elsworth said of the runner-up: "We would have won without the winner, and I am very happy to pick up a good prize for coming second."
Royal And Regal's trainer Michael Jarvis added: "He just didn't quite get home and at this stage of his career I think two miles is probably his maximum trip.
"We'll now consider trying to win the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket again."