ROYAL Ascot has seen many great performances over the years and more than a few that have also looked great on the clock. It takes a special effort from a special horse to make racing veterans gasp in disbelief and there was one on the Wednesday this year.

The facts of the matter are that the American-trained two-year-old Lady Aurelia won the five-furlong Queen Mary Stakes by seven lengths, on officially soft going and on a stiff track, in 60.14s, a time more than a second quicker than any of the other three races at the trip in the week and fully 2.55s quicker than recorded the day before by Profitable in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes for older horses.