QUEEN ANNE STAKES (GROUP 1)

ASCOT has tried so hard over the years to attract foreign challengers that it must be hugely rewarding when a superstar turns up and triumphs in totally alien surroundings.

That was the way of it when the royal meeting opened on Tuesday as American filly Tepin strode clear in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes before holding the strong late challenge of Godolphin’s Belardo, with Lightning Spear back in third.

Tepin, a five-year-old by Bernstein, had won the Breeders’ Cup Mile after prevailing on soft ground at Keeneland the time before. That encouraged trainer Mark Casse to send her over, though even he must have had some reservations when Ascot experienced a deluge last Friday night. It was soft all over the course on Tuesday but the horses handled it well, most of them coming up the straight mile in the centre or just towards the far side.

The Godolphin pacemaker Barchan was reeled in before the two-furlong pole, where Kodi Bear took over. He lasted for a short time but Tepin made ground smoothly for Julien Leparoux and went on, holding Belardo all the way to the line. She started at 11/2 but there were few significant bets on course in the conditions, most of the serious money coming for the runner-up.

Toormore ran well in fourth but there were several disappointments, most notably the French filly Esoterique, who dropped right out to finish last. In fact the form book did its job because she was also unplaced behind the winner in America.

WONDERFULLY CONSISTENT

Tepin is wonderfully consistent and has now won 10 of her last 12 races, including seven off the reel, with most of them coming on turf. A big filly, she clearly has the ideal temperament and racing without Lasix or her usual nasal strip did not affect her at all. This display can only encourage more foreign raiders.

“This turf is better than what she won on at the Breeders’ Cup. It’s a beautiful turf course, it’s perfect,” enthused Casse, who was only the second American trainer after Wesley Ward to saddle a winner at the meeting. It was also a first royal winner for Leparoux, a Frenchman who plies his trade in the USA and was actually having his first ride in Europe.

“I could feel the other one coming and the last hundred yards was a long way to go,” the jockey said with a smile. “I’m glad we got it done.”

Owner Robert Masterson, surrounded by jubilant friends and colleagues, was ecstatic. “People say Americans have to have drugs in their horses but she had no drugs, nothing. She just performed magnificently and it’s a great message to send back home,” he said.

Quite so, and if the Ascot executive had been invited to write the script it would no doubt have looked remarkably similar to what transpired. A wonderful start to a rather soggy day.