Creative Force completed his progression from handicaps to the top level by taking the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot in the hands of William Buick.

Rated just 89 in April, the Charlie Appleby-trained colt has gone up 25lb in the ratings and picked good prizes such as the Group Three Jersey Strakes at the Royal meeting.

The Dubawi gelding had run with credit in both the July Cup and Haydock Sprint Cup without making the frame, but that experience in Group Ones was a positive – as was the stiff six furlongs on soft ground.

Last year's winner Glen Shiel made the running and proved a tough nut to crack, but 11-2 shot Creative Force was up to the task.

Hitting the front in the final furlong, the Godolphin runner kept up the gallop to hold off Glen Shiel by a length.

Minzaal stayed on from some way back to fill third place on what was just the second start of his three-year-old campaign, with favourite Art Power a head away in fourth.

Appleby said: "After Haydock, it was always the plan to come here. The two positives were the ground being what it is and, secondly, him sharpening up.

"After winning the Jersey here at the Royal meeting, we ran him in the July Cup and then backed him up at Goodwood. James (Doyle) said he over-raced at Goodwood and felt like a sprinter in a seven-furlong race.

"I thought we were going to run a big race at Haydock, but the ground was too fast for him.

"In these big sprints they've got to be able to travel and this horse travels for fun. William rode him with bags of confidence and having won over seven here, we knew he was going to hit the line hard.

"It’s a great team result. It’s been a great season and for this little horse to win a Group One is brilliant.

"He’s a typical Dubawi who should get better with age and I feel the sprinting division is quite open.

"With Starman retired, there’s a hole there to be filled, and I feel this horse is potentially young enough to do that – we’ve been looking for a new star sprinter since Blue Point was retired, so hopefully this horse can be a fun horse for the next year or two."

Eshaada (16-1) just edged out Albaflora in a thrilling finish to the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.

The two protagonists pulled away from Aidan O'Brien’s odds-on market leader Snowfall, who was disappointing in third.

Eshaada had not raced since finishing last of seven behind the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite in the Yorkshire Oaks in August – but she bounced back to take the Group One honours for trainer Roger Varian and jockey Jim Crowley.

Mystery Angel and La Joconde shared the duties up front before the latter went on at halfway. Ryan Moore had Snowfall tucked away in sixth place and though she made ground in the straight the spark she showed when winning the Oaks at Epsom and the Curragh was missing.

There was little between the first two as they battled it out in the closing stages, with Eshaada getting the verdict by a shot head from Albaflora and Snowfall three and a half lengths away.

Varian said: "Her only poor performance was at York and the Ribblesdale form had worked out very well with the winner (Loving Dream) winning the Prix de Royallieu two weeks ago at Longchamp.

"The ground was tight at York and it’s a funny place. Maybe she needs cut in the ground.

"Coming here today she had track form and has always looked a class filly, so I thought she was a touch overpriced beforehand.

"We were very happy with her condition and everything went right during the race. She always had a good position and kicked in the straight. She had to be really tough inside the final two furlongs, but she stuck her neck out and was really game.

"I should think a discussion will be had with the team at Shadwell (regarding the future). We’d love to have her around for another year, (but) that won’t be my decision.

"She’s a big, scopey filly who is still lightly-raced and you would think her best days are perhaps still ahead of her."

O’Brien said of Snowfall: "She ran an OK race, obviously you would be disappointed she didn’t win. She’s had plenty of racing, it was a steadily enough run race and they quickened and she followed them, but she just didn’t get to them.

"Ryan said he would have preferred the pace to be a bit stronger early. Snowfall was slow away and didn’t want to come out and around them. There you go – that’s the way it is.

"We haven’t said anything really (about next year). We’ll see how she is, but that is probably it this year."

Trueshan (Evs Fav) justified strong market support to record back-to-back victories in a rough race for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup.

Winner of the Prix du Cadran just two weeks ago, Alan King's five-year-old repeated last year’s success on home soil, with veteran stayer Stradivarius third.

His regular partner, Hollie Doyle, missed out on Longchamp due to a riding ban, with James Doyle deputising, but she was back in the saddle and took full advantage.

There was a muddling early pace with The Mediterranean settling down in front from Master Of Reality, with Trueshan in midfield and Stradivarius towards the rear.

While Frankie Dettori had to make his challenge wide on Stradivarius after a barging match with Baron Samedi, Doyle had Trueshan in a good position turning for home.

Trueshan was harassed by Tashkhan, but his class prevailed and he asserted in the final furlong to beat the outsider by a length and a half.

Stradivarius finally got a clear run, but his bid flattened out and he was two and a half lengths further away.

King said: "I haven’t been this nervous for a long time.

"I was just nervous because it was only two weeks (between runs). Dan (Horsford) was very happy with him at home, but he was quite a handful to saddle today and quite hot. I don’t think he was at his best, but we’ve got away with it.

"He had to be very, very tough today."