With a furlong to go in last night's Ballyogan Stakes, the anticipated stroll for the odds-on Final Exam was going exactly to script - and then Dietrich made her entrance.
Michael Kinane brought the filly from a good five lengths behind to dramatically overhaul Final Exam in the closing stages and set up an attempt at Royal Ascot's King's Stand Stakes.
"We always thought she was very fast but she just didn't click last year," said Aidan O'Brien of Dietrich, a $2 million sister to the Coronation Stakes winner Chimes Of Freedom.
It was an evening when more than O'Brien were thinking of the Ascot extravaganza. The maiden winner, Sahara Slew, could be aimed at t he Ribblesdale Stakes but one horse who will skip the royal bash will be One Won One.
The hardy seven-year-old notched up an eighth career success in the listed Glencairn Stakes, pouncing late to beat Bach and Tarry Flynn under a fine ride from Eddie Ahern.
"This horse hates Ascot," declared his proud trainer, Joanna Morgan, who sent the horse to Abu Dhabi during the winter to win the Presidents Cup.
"He is better than ever since he came back from Dubai. It's like old people coming back from the sun; it must be the same for old horses!" she added, before nominating next Wednesday's Ballycorus Stakes over seven furlongs as One Won One's next start - "that is his trip".
Ahern is now on the eight-winner mark for the season because he had earlier had a much easier success on Just Special in the opener .
The odd-on Mayara was confidently expected to land this under John Murtagh, but the favourite was beaten early in the straight and the Michael Grassick-trained winner had to be just nudged to the line to win by five lengths.
Kinane added to Dietrich's success on Sheer Tenby in the nine-furlong handicap, the Paul Roche-trained horse winning from Sarraaf. Mary Williamson once again showed her talent when bringing the bottom-weight Richie Rich with a devastating late run in the first division of the seven-furlong handicap, but the apprentice had to settle for a minor place in the second part, as her mount The Bower managed only third to Ciara Flyer and Ger's Gold. Tim Easterby has his sights set on winning the Queen Mary stakes at Royal Ascot for the second year running after watching Good Girl win a thrilling Listed Hilary Needler Trophy in the hands of Jamie Spencer at Beverley last night.
Spencer dashed her through on the rails to lead over a furlong out to hold the strong challenge of the unlucky Roundtree, who was badly drawn and could not get a clear run until the winner had flown.
