The Fugue triumphant in Prince of Wales's The Fugue produced a minor shock in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot as she floored red-hot favourite Treve. Always ideally placed by William Buick, the John Gosden-trained mare (11-2) sat in the group off a fast pace set by Elkaayed. Absolutely full of running at the two pole, she stayed on strongly as Treve struggled to close the gap in finishing a never-nearer third, with Magician in the runner-up spot, beaten a length and three-quarters. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve did not pick up as expected for Frankie Dettori, but there was no denying a deserved success for The Fugue who has not always enjoyed the best of fortune at the highest level. Buick said: "She's been an absolute star for me and everybody back at the yard. She proved today what she can do against top-class horses. I must say a huge thank you to everyone back at Clarehaven for getting this filly here today. When she gets an uncomplicated run like she did today and they come back to her, she's lethal, like she was there. "It means everything to everyone involved." The Fugue is owned and bred by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and his wife Lady Madeleine. Lady Lloyd Webber said: "We're so excited and she so deserves this. It hasn't gone her way sometimes and this is a very big stage to do it on. She's got her recognition as one of the best horses in Europe." Her husband was witnessing The Fugue win in person for the first time. He said: "We did genuinely think we were going to let her have a stroll round the park! We didn't believe she would do this, but it's the best day in our whole racing career." Gosden said: "This is great and the interesting thing about this race was that it was all about girl power, with Treve and this filly. It didn't work, the trip to Dubai (for the Dubai Duty Free). We trained her in the winter and she was like a little bud that went tight, but now she's flowered and she looks great. "She got knocked over in the Oaks (two years ago), she got absolutely creamed and should have won, but she remains a very brave, lovely filly. She has superb owner-breeders, they don't have many in training and to have a filly of this quality, to beat the colts, is what it's all about. "Treve is a wonderous filly and I would not want to take on Treve on soft ground over a mile and a half in the Arc - I wouldn't want to go near her, I think she's unbeatable. "But today was summer racing, a mile and a quarter on good to firm ground, and that's the difference. You look at races like the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International and hope we have summer weather. She has little feet like a ballerina and doesn't like soft ground, so if it's soft we don't run."
