The Fugue became the sixth Group One winner for trainer John Gosden this season when she took out the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
For the first time this year, 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 Richard Hughes.
Timepiece, demonstrating why Sir 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 map of the Goodwood contours imprinted on his mind, pulled his mount wide with a furlong (200m) 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 he chose her for the jockey.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Part of the gloss was taken away from Hughes when he was given a two-day ban for manoeuvring right and interfering with Izzi Top and the eventual third, Oaks winner Was.
