"With another year on his back this horse will be unbeatable," said Easterby in the winner's enclosure at Goodwood. "I bought him for only 6,000 guineas and bought him back in for 14,000 guineas the next year when no one wanted him. He's definitely better than Lochnager, the horse I trained to win the Nunthorpe back in 1976."
Given that Hoof It was required to carry 10st at Goodwood and did not appear to have the best of the draw, the way he cruised into the lead two furlongs out before pulling readily clear was highly impressive.
His jockey, Kieren Fallon, has no doubt that he is destined for the top.
The Irishman said: "I call Hoof It the gentle giant and he's unbelievable to ride. All that weight made no difference to him at Goodwood because he's such a big, strong horse.
"He's able to take that. This lad is still a big baby and is going to get better and stronger with time."
Fallon's belief in Hoof It is such that he nominated him as his best chance at York at the start of the week.
"He's ready to take on the big boys now because handicappers can't go his pace. In fact, I simply can't see anything beating him," he added.
Hoof It's prospects increased further yesterday when unbeaten two-year-old Bapak Chinta was removed from the list of final declarations.
In his absence, Hoof It has to be the nap of the day tomorrow with Kevin Ryan's Masamah nominated as the one likely to finish in the money.
Green Destiny had no luck in running when a warm favourite at Goodwood in the totesport Mile but had previously shown his true colours with a fine victory in the John Smith's Cup at York. He should return to form in the Group Three Strensall Stakes.
Sir Henry Cecil has a decent team of two-year-olds this season and he fields one of his best unraced colts in the shape of Thomas Chippendale in the Convivial Maiden Stakes later in the afternoon. This is certainly one to follow, though he is bound to improve for the experience.
