Seal shows the way home

Seal Of Approval turned the Qipco British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes at Ascot into a procession.

Stepping up massively in class, the James Fanshawe-trained filly (16-1) relished the testing conditions under George Baker, who was deputising for the injured Hayley Turner.

Turner suffered a nasty fall from Seal Of Approval in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster and the incident finished her season early.

Johnny Murtagh rode his own Belle De Crecy into second, but was some four lengths adrift.

The Oaks winner Talent travelled well into the straight but failed to quicken up and stayed on for third.

Baker, was was claiming his first Group One, said: ``Once I got a bit of daylight, she picked up nicely. I almost got there too soon.

“I feel sorry for Hayley Turner, who is injured – it’s her ride.”

Fanshawe said: ``I always felt she'd improve on this ground.

“It’s great for the breeders, Tim and Tessa Vestey, who own her.

“The only sad thing is that Hayley got injured at Doncaster and couldn’t ride her so I must thank Hayley for her help.

“I’ve spent three weeks looking at yearlings for next year and she’s one you would never have picked.

“She’s a great mover and her dad, Authorized, used to love soft ground.

“There’s nothing like Ascot, it’s been a lucky place for us.

“She showed real resilience as a lot of horses wouldn’t have gone through those gaps after what happened at Doncaster.”