EARLIER on Tuesday, a clear marker had been put down by the brilliant North American mare Tepin, who won the Queen Anne Stakes under a well-judged ride by Julien Leparoux. The overall time of this race was nothing special for a group contest, equivalent to a timefigure of 115.

The Queen Anne was well enough run according to the sectionals, though Belardo (117 timefigure) and Lightning Spear (114 timefigure) – the never-nearer second and third – were a bit further back than ideal, while Tepin was at the front of the main group before going on in the penultimate furlong.