Treve defeated by The Fugue

The Fugue roared back to her very best form in reigning supreme in the Prince of Wales' Stakes, breaking the track record for the ten furlong distance as she defeated Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve.

Settling comfortably under William Buick, The Fugue powered to the lead in the straight and quickly pushed clear of the odds-on favourite Treve seemingly with Mukhadram and Breeders' Cup Turf champion Magician to repel.

However, as the runners headed towards the line the superiority of The Fugue was clear to see, with John Gosden's mare producing yet another exceptional performance on firmer turf to claim her fourth Group 1, reversing the Breeders' Cup Turf form in the process as Magician grabbed second.

The Fugue, Magician and Treve all broke the track record previously held by Cirrus des Aigles from his 2011 Champion Stakes victory, with The Fugue beating the clock by 0.62 seconds.

"She has just blossomed with the weather, and the decision [to come here] was made on Saturday," said John Gosden, who was winning his second feature race of the week. 

"William [Buick] was under strict instructions that he could flick her, no more than that. She is a filly who will give you all without asking. She was just ready; you look at the races like the Eclipse and the Juddmonte and hope that we have summer weather. The Fugue doesn't like soft ground, with her little feet like a ballerina, so if it's soft we don't run."

Treve had reportedly disappointed jockey Frankie Dettori on her way to post, with her action also disappointing her trainer. A summer break is being considered, but a full review of the filly will be made upon returning to France with the trainer citing that something must have been wrong for her to be defeated in such a manner. 

In the following race Integral sauntered to victory in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes with another track record. Sky Lantern, who reportedly would come on for the run, was unplaced behind Sir Michael Stoute's filly with Certify finishing third last. L'Amour de ma Vie performed creditably to finish second with Purr Along third.

Spanish Pipedreamwas unable to take hold of the Queen Mary Stakes in the early stages, as Starspangledbanner grabbed another two year old winner with Anthem Alexander. Anthem Alexander was reported to be heavily in season when winning last time out, and franked her impressive victory here with a neck defeat of Tiggy Wiggy.

Mustajeeb got the better of a 1-2 finish for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in the Jersey Stakes, as he powered to victory ahead of Munwaary with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf second Giovanni Boldini improving on recent form to finish a close up third. 

Field of Dream grabbed a super 20-1 winner for Across The Pond in the big field Royal Hunt Cup, with Muteela claiming the final race of the day.

Estimate has not been seen for a considerable time, and will be making her seasonal reappearance in the Gold Cup this year but has reportedly been thriving at home. Whether that will see her hang on from a classy field this year, however, is open for debate.

St Leger winner Leading Light is the favourite for this race after demolishing a small but classy field of rivals in Ireland last month, He bids to win the race that Coolmore won so often with the legendary Yeats.

Across The Pond's Three to Follow for Thursday

BAITHA ALGA (Race 1 : Norfolk Stakes)

How often do we see a horse get stuck in traffic, only to ease outside on the bridle and comfortably win a race?

Two starts ago Baitha Alga did just that, impressively so, and then went on to comfortably win at Epsom on Derby day. Many would have expected him to start next in the Coventry Stakes, but he has been dropped back in trip to run in this five furlong contest instead.

Frankie Dettori is booked to ride in this weak looking renewal of the Norfolk Stakes, and Baitha Alga should take all the beating.

BRACELET (Race 3 : Ribbelsdale Stakes)

Bracelet was impressive when winning her first race of the season, but failed to deliver in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. 

That race was spoken of as a trial for the Oaks, albeit it eventually prevented her from lining up in the Oaks, and with that in mind I cannot take Bracelet's performance in the Newmarket race literally.

She finally gets her opportunity to step up to the twelve furlongs distance at Ascot and I feel she will relish every yard of it.

TAC DE BOISTRON (Race 4 : Gold Cup)

Admittedly there hasn't been enough rain to see Tac De Boistron fully effective and at his very best in this race, but his performance last time out at York did a lot to suggest that he may be the classiest long distance horse in the country.

Everything was against him last time, including the distance of the race, yet he nearly reeled in Gospel Choir for an unimaginable victory. This extended distance will see Tac de Boistron comfortable, whereas many of his rivals will enter with an question mark over their ability to handle the distance, and he looks a big play at the forecast odds.