HE may not look a world-beater elsewhere, or under other riders, but the combination of Newmarket and Silvestre de Sousa makes Communique a tough nut to crack, and he extended his unbeaten run at the track to four with a game win in the Princess of Wales Stakes, conceding a Group 2 penalty and beating Mirage Dancer, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore, and Desert Encounter trained by David Simcock and ridden by Harry Bentley by one-and-three-quarter-lengths and half a length.

The winning rider, having allowed Dashing Willoughby to set the pace, made his move early in the straight, and his mount had the others off the bridle before staying on strongly up the hill for a comfortable success. Masar was again below form, racing much too freely behind the steady early pace without cover, and fading to finish last.