Soviet on song in Windsor Forest

Soviet Song ran out a thoroughly convincing winner of the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot and so took her winnings past the £1 million mark.

Jamie Spencer was content to sit off a strong early gallop and was still second last with just over two furlongs to go.

But once he pressed the button, the response was immediate and Soviet Song bounded away from her rivals, with Echelon staying on well to grab second, two lengths adrift of the winner.
Mark Usher's Royal Alchemist finished an honourable third.

James Fanshawe's popular mare was always travelling well within herself while Royal Alchemist and German challenger Shapira took the field along through the early stages.

She produced a dazzling turn of foot to settle the contest in a matter of strides approaching the distance, to the delight of the Ascot crowd.

Echelon quickened smartly when asked by jockey Mick Kinane and beat the rest convincingly enough, but she had no answers to the 11-8 favourite's superior finishing burst.

Royal Alchemist stuck on gamely through the final furlong once headed, eventually finishing a length and three-quarters behind the second.

Afterwards James Fanshawe said: 'It's a mighty relief and it's the first time she's won at Royal Ascot.

'I wasn't convinced at home she was 100 per cent, but she was really good today, back to her best and she showed a good turn of foot.

'I just hope we can keep her going. We are all enjoying her racing. "Hopefully this race will bring her on and all being well she will go for the Falmouth. She got a chill after Goodwood (last season's Sussex Stakes) and never got going again. Hopefully we can keep things going until the autumn this season.'

Spencer added: "That was fabulous. I was following Mick (Kinane) then I moved out to follow Kieren (Fallon, on Luas Line) who was getting a clear run.'