Unbeaten Inspiral (15-8 favourite) flew down the outside to land a thrilling victory in the Coronation Stakes on the fourth day of Royal Ascot 2022.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of the great Frankel showed the huge talent she possesses to land a fifth straight career success in the Group One feature, under Frankie Dettori.
Having sparkled during her juvenile campaign which saw her land some impressive victories, chiefly in the Group Two Cazoo May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and the Group One bet365 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, Inspiral was the winter favourite for the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas. But having taken time to come to hand she had to miss the Classic.
But on her eagerly-awaited return she was held up in rear under Dettori off the pace set by 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet, before making her move on the turn for home. And once the Italian let her go, she flew home to leave the likes of Cachet and French 1,000 heroine Mangoustine in her wake to land a superb four-and-three-quarter-length success from American raider Spendarella (9-1), with the Jessica Harrington-trained Discoveries (11-1) a short head back in third. Aidan O'Brien's Tenebrism (10-1) – who had won the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes as a two-year-old and disappointed when favourite for the 1,000 Guineas last month – was just a nose back in fourth.
All options are now open to Inspiral, who could step up in trip to 1m2f for the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood next – although she is an odds-on favourite for the Group One Falmouth Stakes over a mile at Newmarket next month.
Gosden, who was having his 60th Royal Ascot winner and a first of the week, said: "What a difference a month has made. Mrs Thompson and Richard (Thompson, of owners Cheveley Park Stud) have been very patient.
"She was favourite for the 1,000 Guineas and we were going to go there, but she wasn't quite right and then we were going to go to the Irish or French Guineas.
"She was like a bud who was very tight that just wouldn't blossom for the summer. She's shown what she can do when she's right.
"Watching her last piece of work I thought we were back, but I never expected her to win like that.
"I listened to Frankie's reaction as he came back and he thought a mile or a mile and a quarter.
"There's the Nassau or the Jacques Le Marois and she would be meeting older horses but getting weight.
"This filly enjoyed the soft mile today but I think she will find the mile and a quarter within her comfort zone. I like to know how they are the next morning, but she could go for the Nassau (at Goodwood) it is a possibility.
"Frankie didn't overcomplicate it like happened yesterday. It's over and it's past, but he didn't overcomplicate it."
It was sweet success for jockey Dettori and trainer John Gosden after the pain of Thursday's Ascot Gold Cup. Some had been critical of the popular Italian veteran over his ride on triple Gold Cup star Stradivarius, who could only finish third to Kyprios in his bid for a record-equalling fourth success. Dettori and Gosden also saw odds-on favourite Reach For The Moon and Saga – both owned by The Queen – also beaten into second in the Hampton Court Stakes and the Britannia Stakes respectively on a difficult afternoon. But Inspiral wiped out those bitter memories as Dettori also grabbed a first winner of the week and 77th Royal Ascot success overall.
Gosden was keen to put Thursday's disappointments behind him and confirmed Stradivarius would bid for record-extending fifth victory in the Goodwood Cup next month.
The Newmarket trainer added: "You can't keep looking back. You discuss it, deal with it and move on. Horses need your full attention and can't deal with you having your lip down. You just get on with it. You can have too much going on in your head, but regarding Strad he goes to Goodwood and was always going to go."
A delighted Dettori said: "She fell out of the stalls and was really far back and I thought 'here we go again'.
"But I gave her a chance to get the splits and she powered through them like a really class filly. She put some good fillies to bed in exemplary style.
"It's been a tough week for us at Clarehaven, but she's put a smile on our faces.
"My head was thumping last night. I woke up this morning and took a little while to warm up and then buried my head into the races today. I thought I have a couple of chances and not all is lost yet, so you have to make peace. It's hard to do, but you have to think out of the box, pull yourself together and concentrate."
American trainer Graham Motion was delighted with runner-up Spendarella. He said: "She ran great – I couldn't be more proud of her. (Jockey and Liverpool FC fan) William (Buick) had her in the perfect spot; she was very brave to hang on for second, I thought, to be honest.
"The winner's very good. Spenderella's very tough. I think she's a Grade One filly and she proved that today. She'll go back to the States now. I think she's really a miler – she showed that today – and we'll need to look at that schedule.
"I don't come over here really just for the hell of it – I have to feel good about it to come. We've run second a couple of times now, so I feel like I know what it takes, and this filly was very good today – the winner – but I think we've proved we're Grade One class."
Harrington, who won the Coronation Stakes with Alpha Centauri (2018) and Alpine Star (2020), said of her third home Discoveries: "I'm absolutely thrilled with her. She came back and reversed the form from the 1,000 Guineas, ran a great race. The winner is obviously a very special filly, and Discoveries was very good – I'm delighted with her."
