Group One races are being won by John Gosden at almost the rate of British Olympic golds this summer as The Fugue became the latest of a frequently expanding list in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
For the first time in the six Gosden has accumulated so far, the glory was not shared with William Buick, as he had been instructed to ride the stable's 7-4 favourite and eventual sixth Izzi Top.
The Fugue (11-4) had left her trainer piqued when only third after a troublesome passage in the Oaks and Gosden's sense of indignation seemed to have finally drained away after she was given a typically masterful Goodwood ride from supersub Richard Hughes.
Timepiece, demonstrating why Henry Cecil was persevering with her after an ordinary start to a fourth season in training, nearly caused an upset with Tom Queally catching his rivals off-guard in front.
But Hughes, who seems to have a detailed piste map of these contours imprinted on his mind, pulled his mount wide with a furlong remaining to cover her run and eventually swept a length clear.
"If anyone deserved to win a Group One race, it was her," Gosden said.
"There is no point talking about the Oaks any more, but it was a pretty horrific affair.
"Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber (owners) were keen to come here but it was only after I walked the track this morning that we confirmed she would run.
"She's got very small ballerina feet and got stuck in the ground at Royal Ascot, but she showed her class today.
"I thought Richard gave her a typically chilly ride."
Explaining the booking of Buick for Izzi Top, Gosden said: "I sort of told him he had to ride her as she was the Group One winner and the other horse was not certain to run.
"She got stuck three wide and ran with the choke out, but that's life.
"Our main idea is for The Fugue to go for the Yorkshire Oaks and then the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf."
Hughes was given a two-day ban (18-19 August) for manoeuvring right and interfering with Izzi Top and the eventual third, Oaks winner Was.
He earlier said: "That's what you call a good spare ride.
"The more I pulled her back, the more she wanted to go - she was like an elastic band ready to quicken."
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Was, is also considering the Yorkshire Oaks.
Another not to be begrudged another valuable success was Hawkeyethenoo (9-1), who took the Blue Square Bet Stewards' Cup back to Scotland for Jim Goldie.
Third in the Wokingham, fifth in the July Cup and an unfortunate seventh in the International Stakes at Ascot, he charged up the far side of the track under Graham Lee and pinched the prize by a nose from Imperial Guest.
Glasgow-based Goldie said: "He's a terrific horse and he has been very unlucky this year, so it's nice to win a race with a lot of history like this.
"For me, it's second only to the Ayr Gold Cup to win.
"He's in the Haydock Sprint Cup and the obvious race we'd like to win is the Ayr Gold Cup, but we never seem to get our ground there."
An unscheduled appearance in the Toyo Tyres Performance Stakes paid off for Motivado as the 11-2 favourite galloped five lengths clear.
Mark Prescott's gigantic gelding had not enjoyed the experience of the Northumberland Plate but had shown more encouragement at York last time and helped Luke Morris to his 100th winner of the year.
"He didn't like the ground at Newcastle at all but I was less worried at York and much more relieved after that," said Prescott.
"I had in my mind to go straight for the Ebor but even my maths could work out that he'd have to turn up here to get in."
Although Prescott praised Morris' professionalism, he was still given a four-day careless riding ban (18-21 August).
Richard Fahey's Johannes (22-1) returned to one of his favourite haunts in the Get Your Bet On At bluesq.com Stewards' Sprint.
"I'm not sure, but I don't think I've had a winner here since this fellow won this race three years ago," said the trainer.
Mark Johnston wrapped up the meeting's top trainers' title with a late double.
Steeler banked the Natwest Ahead For Business EBF Maiden, while Landaman, who won the first race of the Glorious meeting on Tuesday, neatly book-ended the fixture in the Qipco Future Stars Apprentice Stakes.
Landaman's jockey Michael Murphy was claiming his third winner of the week, while Johnston took his week-long haul to an outstanding seven victories.
