Quiet Reflection created a minor surprise as she ran out a clear-cut winner of the Group Two 188Bet Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
Karl Burke's charge was sent off at odds of 7-1 in a race expected to be dominated by the likes of Gifted Master and Buratino.
Gifted Master duly set out to make all, setting a decent gallop closely tracked by Gracious John with Buratino also sitting handy in fourth.
In contrast, Dougie Costello dropped Quiet Reflection in behind, waiting for the perfect moment to push on as the race began in earnest.
Buratino was one of the first to challenge Gifted Master, with Donjuan Triumphant also kicking again on the run to the line, but neither could match the finish of Quiet Reflection.
Costello produced her inside the final furlong and when he gave the signal, she readily pushed on to notch a three-and-three-quarter-length win over Donjuan Triumphant.
Costello told Channel 4 Racing: "Today she travelled, I was happy with where I was. She's won going away.
"I think she's learned to settle within herself mentally and she has plenty of speed."
Coral now make Quiet Reflection the 7-2 favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, while also offering 12-1 about her chance in the King's Stand Stakes.
Costello went on: "I'm struggling to put into words how it feels.
"I rode some nice horses when I worked for John Quinn, but this filly is all about speed.
"She's won in hack canter and, if anything, I hit the front too soon."
Burke said: "She's a different filly to the one that won in France (last month), she's physically matured since then and I knew she'd improved.
"It wasn't the idea to sit that far back but when I saw him cruise up on her two out, I thought he'd gone too soon.
"She's got a fantastic turn of foot and a high cruising speed and when you put them together, it makes something special.
"Six furlongs is obviously no problem and at Ascot we may as well keep her to her own age group (Commonwealth Cup) where hopefully the American (Acapulco) might give us a nice lead!
"If it was soft, we could go for the King's Stand."
In the preceeding race, Home Of The Brave pulled out all the stops to land the Group Three Timeform Jury Stakes.
Hugo Palmer's charge was sent off the 9-4 favourite to make a winning debut in the colours of new owner Godolphin and James Doyle had his mount quickly away and was soon dictating matters.
While the challengers were lining up in behind, Home Of The Brave started to push on, repelling the challenge of Breton Rock before Convey emerged down the centre of the track.
Convey tried hard to peg back Home Of The Brave, but the four-year-old kept finding a little extra to prevail by a neck with So Beloved two lengths back in third.
Doyle said: "He relaxed quite well and when I asked him to pick up, he took a couple of strides.
"He's a horse that's improving all the time.
"He's very forward-going but he has a great attitude and is always willing to please."
Palmer said: "This was a bit of a recovery mission, but he's a Group Three winner again now.
"What I loved today was the way he had to dig deep as in all his races previously, he's either won easily or been beaten a long way.
"Today he was softened up by Breton Rock but still fought off Convey.
"He's much more amenable now. I told James don't be afraid to mess about with the pace, which he did, but he felt he may have won easier if he'd just let him roll, but that might have suited So Beloved.
"There is a Grade One at Saratoga in June for him, beyond that there's the Keeneland Mile and the Breeders' Cup Mile.
"Over here there are a few seven-furlong races, but all within a few weeks of each other so you have to aim at one. Then there's the Foret, but that's usually on soft ground."
