SUESA (François Rohaut/William Buick) may have fluffed her lines when sent off favourite against Dragon Symbol (Archie Watson/Oisin Murphy) et al in the Commonwealth Cup, but she showed why she was such a warm order at Ascot by producing a sparkling turn of foot to land the Group 2 King George Stakes, the 7/1 shot beating Dragon Symbol into second by a comprehensive three lengths.

Glass Slippers (Kevin Ryan/Tom Eaves), making her first start since the Breeders’ Cup last November, ran a cracker to be third, a total of four and a half lengths behind the winner.

Huge gap

Suesa was certainly helped by the decision of most of the jockeys to race up the centre of the track, an odd move given that the stands’ rail had been a clear advantage through the week in sprints, and she was afforded a huge gap up the inside to deliver her challenge.

In contrast, Dragon Symbol was drawn two off the stands’ rail, but ended up making his challenge on the wide outside, a manoeuvre which may not have been entirely by choice for Oisin Murphy, but which did not aid his cause. In fairness, though, three lengths is a big margin by top-class standards at the minimum trip, and any notion that Suesa was lucky would appear fanciful.

Disappointing

Battaash, winner of this race for the past four years, showed much of his old speed, but could find little for pressure on the easy ground, and was a disappointing seventh. The win was a sixth of the week for Buick, who heads the list of leading riders this week.

James Wigan, racing manager to veteran American owner George Strawbridge, said: “We thought Suesa was very good before Ascot. Then the rains came and the ground was bottomless and she just could not act on it. William looked after her then.

“What she did in France was very impressive before. We didn’t know what she’d be like against these, but we knew she was pretty good. There are not really any sprint races in France in the summer, so this was really the only place to come, but I was concerned about this rain.

Abbaye target

“As for York, it depends what she is like when she gets back. She’ll have had quite a lot of travelling, coming here and then going back, then coming again having already done Ascot. The Abbaye will be the obvious target.

“There is a very good chance she will stay in training next year as the owner is very much a sportsman.”