LAVENDAR'S Blue sprang a minor surprise with an impressive display in the Group 3 Betway Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.

Having finished third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and in a Group 3 at Goodwood at the start of August, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Jubiloso was widely expected to make it third time lucky at pattern level under Ryan Moore.

The well-backed 4/5 favourite was sent straight to lead, but it was clear from early in the straight that it was not going to be plain sailing for the market leader and she weakened quickly late in the piece to finish a disappointing seventh of eight runners.

Amanda Perrett’s Lavender’s Blue had looked an exciting prospect when making a winning debut at Newmarket in the spring, after which she finished second in listed company at Newbury before trailing home last of 14 in the Investec Oaks at Epsom.

The daughter of Sea The Stars was a 12/1 shot on her return from a three-month break in this one-mile test, and from two furlongs down it just looked a question of whether the gap would come, as she was travelling powerfully in the hands of Jim Crowley.

Once the split did appear, Lavender’s Blue accelerated quickly to put the race to bed and she was ultimately well on top as she passed the post a length and a half to the good over Duneflower in second, with Look Around just a neck further away in third.