Attraction proves a classic beauty
Since she first appeared on a racecourse last year, Attraction's ungainly, bandy-legged stride has drawn as much comment as her undoubted abilities.
But beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder and nobody was knocking the Mark Johnston-trained filly after this tremendous performance.
She floored her rivals with a lethal combination of early pace and sheer guts.
Twice last year injury threatened to derail the career of Attraction, who made it five out of five when winning the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket in July but was forced to remain off the racecourse until today.
Once she recovered from problems with her knees and a fractured pedal bone in a hind leg last autumn, however, Johnston had always been adamant that her training regime had gone perfectly to plan.
And this success provided no small degree of personal satisfaction for the Middleham maestro, who was clearly stung by some of the negative comments about Attraction's physical problems in the build-up to the race.
"Okay, so it is against the odds, but I am beginning to get fed up with all the negative talk," he said in the winner's enclosure.
"We always said that since she came back to me in December her preparation had gone without a hitch.
"She had bony changes in her knees and she doesn't have the most perfect physical confirmation in the world, but believe me, there are a lot worse horses than her.
"She is a champion two-year-old, the best in Europe, and now she is a Classic winner my second after Mister Baileys.
"Last year I kept being asked how good she was, but I was trying to keep my feet on the ground and all I would say is that she was the best in her group. We weren't afraid of any other two-year-old fillies last year.
"But now I can tell you that she is definitely one of the best. I hope I don't have to wait long to have another one, but I suspect I might have to.
"She didn't just win that, she galloped and stayed all the way to the line. I am thrilled to see it happen."
Quickly away, Attraction led the field in the centre of the course with Carry On Katie in close proximity and Spotlight racing alone on the stands side.
Carry On Katie was the first to cry enough over two furlongs out as Hathrah and Silca's Gift put in their glory bids.
But Attraction soon had their measure, while Sundrop's challenge came too late.
Attraction, returned at 11-2, held the late thrust of runner-up Sundrop by half a length, with Hathrah the same distance back in third.
The placed fillies shaped like obvious Oaks candidates as Godolphin had to settle for the runner-up spot in a Guineas for the second day running, but the winner is set to remain at a mile for future engagements.
"Everybody put doubts in my mind about her stamina, but really I never doubted her," Johnston said.
"Unbeaten runs always come to an end but this one hasn't and she came into today's race clear on official ratings. She had done all her work well and there weren't going to be any excuses for her.
"Now we can go home for a good drink before we have to think about the future for her."
Winning rider Kevin Darley was in equally jubilant spirits.
"She's an exceptional filly. Mark said to make it uncomplicated and let her bowl along.
"When she got to the front she pricked her ears, and when I gave her a kick in the belly she picked up and kept going.
"She was so relaxed and laid-back. She got the run of the race in fairness, but she was doing absolutely nothing in front and by the time they had got to her, they had run out of gears to get past.
"It was just a brilliant performance. She was totally exceptional out there."
Darley's new weighing-room colleague Kerrin McEvoy, who only arrived in Britain days ago, enjoyed a memorable experience on the runner-up.
Having just her third run, Sundrop showed signs of inexperience but ran on gamely in the final stages to suggest that a step up in trip would suit.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "She ran a big race but she needs further. The Oaks will be her target. She needed this race and she will come on a lot for it.
"She is a class filly and I was really happy with her."
