The Fugue on song in running to victory in Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot

Mustajeeb and Muwaary earn Sheikh Hamdan 1-2 to major English meeting to go with English Oaks showing

William Buick riding The Fugue to victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2014. Charlie Crowhurst / Getty Images

ROYAL ASCOT, ENGLAND // The Fugue profited from a lacklustre performance by Treve to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday.

The Fugue has been unlucky on several continents during the past few seasons, but a runner has to be in a race to win it and John Gosden’s filly improved on her third place 12 months ago to become only the fifth filly to win the 2,000-metre event.

The Fugue suffered a cut heel when she finished down the field in the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan Racecourse in March.

It was the latest in a sequence of ill fortune that stretched back to jockey William Buick getting trapped on the rail by more savvy American riders when the pair finished third at the Breeders’ Cup in 2012.

With Treve going down to the start under Frankie Dettori in an unsettled manner, the big-race favourite effectively was already beaten before the gates opened. It was a gilt-edged opportunity.

Owner Lady Lloyd Webber, the wife of theatre impresario Sir Andrew, asked: “How easy was that?

“For God’s sake, why doesn’t she do that every time? It hasn’t gone her way sometimes.

“It is all very well going around the world, but this is the biggest stage to do it on.”

Buick has become a more complete rider since he was exposed in the Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita two years ago.

He has ridden The Fugue in all but two of her 16 starts and has felt the anguish and the joy of her roller-coaster career. Even he alluded to her misfortune.

“When she gets a clear, uncomplicated run like she did today, without any bother, she is lethal,” the 25-year-old rider said. “She got a smooth run and she stayed on well.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Elkaayed set a furious pace under Dane O’Neill and, although he enjoyed a wide lead, he was pegged back to just a length as the Irish raiders Parish Hall and Magician went in pursuit coming into the straight.

Mukhadram, Sheikh Hamdan's primary hope, was sat in behind with Paul Hanagan on board and Buick was tucked in on his flank on the outside.

With 400 metres to run, The Fugue loomed up alongside Magician and settled the issue in a matter of strides. Treve laboured on for third, edging out Mukhadram.

“Something was definitely wrong,” Dettori said. “That is not the Treve we all know.”

Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hamdan had another one-two at a major English meeting when Mustajeeb led home Muwaary in the Jersey Stakes.

Mustajeeb had no answer to Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes winner Kingman when the two met in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last month but always looked in control in the final 200 metres to win by a length.

Giovanni Boldini, who was fourth in the UAE Derby, finished third.

Sheikh Hamdan, who was not present, registered a one-two in the English Oaks this month when Taghrooda thrashed Tarfasha at Epsom.

The two fillies are slated to meet in the Irish Oaks next month.

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