Sunspangled cast off the role of mobile windbreak to claim the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile on the concluding day of the Ascot Festival yesterday.
On paper, the Aidan O'Brien-trained daughter of Caerleon's fifth to Edabiya in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh at the beginning of the month had the look of a disappointing run.
But connections felt the chestnut's impressive frame had served to shield her rivals from a headwind which registered a mighty reading the Beaufort Scale. They accordingly adopted the principle of aero-dynamics and the plan brought revenge on the Moyglare winner.
Rain, which fell in torrents through the night, had turned the ground to soft, a factor thought to weigh heavily in favour of the unbeaten Edabiya, who numbered Sunspangled among her victims in a listed race at Leopardstown on her debut.
John Oxx's filly was returned the 11 to 10 favourite to present the Aga Khan with his first British Group One since his return from self-imposed exile prompted by Aliysa's disqualification from the 1989 Oaks.
But as Johnny Murtagh drove her to the front on the run to the final furlong Michael Kinane loosed Sunspangled, running in the colours of Michael Tabor, from the slipstream she had enjoyed for the previous six and a half, with Frankie Dettori forcing David Loder's Calando into a challenge against the far rail.
Strides from the line Sunspangled on the outside emerged the definite leader to win by a neck at 9 to 1 from Calando, with Edabiya a short head away 3rd and Alabaq nine lengths away fourth.
"We just felt that last time she didn't get much cover and there was a very, very strong headwind which met her all the way at the Curragh," explained O'Brien. "Michael gave her a lovely ride. He dropped her in and took his time on her, put her asleep and just dropped her on the line."
Kinane considers the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas a realistic objective, saying: "She has plenty of pace. It was a serious headwind last time and she was taking it, when Johnny's horse had a beautiful run. Our plan was to be more patient today.
"There is no reason why she shouldn't be as good or a little better next season," added Kinane.
As for Edabiya, it is now the turn of her connections to have a tactics rethink.
"She was travelling easily but when she hit the front, she seemed to wait for them to come at her," said Oxx. "As it turned out we would have been better coming with a run at the end."
Desert Prince has been elevated to the position of top European three-year-old miler following his half-length success over Dr Fong in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
British Horseracing Board handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill explained: I will be putting Desert Prince up to 128 from 120 after yesterday's win.
"Dr Fong, who was also previously rated on 120, has gone up to 127. "And with better luck in running the third horse, Second Empire, would have run close to his mark of 125 which he achieved in a Group Three in Ireland and I've left Cape Cross on 120."
Richard Quinn will ride as freelance next season, the jockey announced yesterday.
The decision will end a 17-year long association with trainer Paul Cole.
John Oxx is out to extend his remarkable domination of the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh on Saturday, having won five of the last eight runnings. "I will run two - last year's winner, Winged Hussar, and Admiral Wings," said Oxx.
