GAVIN Cromwell’s Princess Yaiza gained a deserved first victory of the season in the Group 2 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp.

Twice a winner last year, she has picked up blacktype placings at Chester, Navan and Newbury this term and had the misfortune of bumping into Sea Of Class along the way.

Second the last twice at Galway, once in a valuable handicap and then in a listed race when she was agonisingly caught close home, she certainly was not winning out of turn.

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who was doubling up after his earlier Group 2 victory on Simon Crisford’s Ostilio, she looked one of the first beaten early in the straight but kept responding to pressure.

Palombe and Shahnaza were closing her down at the line, but had to settle for minor honours.

“It’s brilliant, I’m absolutely delighted,” said Cromwell. “I was a bit worried he hadn’t kicked on early enough because she’s very hard to pass. It’s just brilliant.

“She was very good today, she definitely deserves it.”