Jacqueline Quest fully deserves her coronation at Ascot

Dignified as ever in defeat, Cecil said: "I was pleased she ran so well. She surprised me but it was just one of those things. If she took the winner across the course then I suppose the other was entitled to win. That's the way it goes I suppose. That's racing."

But with his trademark tilt of the head, he added: "Maybe we'll get our own back at Royal Ascot."

Special Duty, who has since franked the Classic form, is not standing in her way tomorrow. But there are still 12 top-class fillies to contend with. They include Music Show, who has twice been unlucky in the mile Classics, firstly being undone by an impossible draw at Newmarket when sixth and then when having to make her challenge wide when third to Bethrah at the Curragh.

The filly will be ridden by Ryan Moore and is trained by Mick Channon, who said: "I think Ascot will suit her. She was just always having to do that little bit extra in Ireland. We want her to go and win. If she can, it'll probably put our season back on track a little bit."

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Lillie Langtry, fifth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, is out to reverse that form with Music Show and Godolphin's runner-up Anna Salai. O'Brien's horses have needed their first run of the season and there's a feeling she will improve from that effort at the Curragh so could go very close in the Group 1 event.

Lillie Langtry should have the weight of money behind her but in an open race only one thing is guaranteed: if Jacqueline Quest passes the post in front, there won't be a more popular winner all year.