JOHN Gosden will long remember this remarkable campaign and Shalaa provided another Group 2 success in the Arqana July Stakes when the Newmarket July Meeting opened on a warm, sunny afternoon on Thursday.

There was plenty of Royal Ascot form on show, with Godolphin’s 9/2 co-favourite Steady Pace trying to improve on his Windsor Castle third. He was always well there and had every chance but could not reach Shalaa, who led a furlong out and ran on well for Rab Havlin to score by a length despite veering sharply left under pressure. Elronaq finished a fair third but Windsor Castle runner-up Areen was a disappointing sixth.