Isabella Giles stormed down the middle of the track to land the Group 3 Ladbrokes Prestige Stakes at Goodwood for Clive Cox and Adam Kirby.
The daughter of Belardo won her first two starts before finishing fourth in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last time, but she bounced back to winning form in style up a furlong in trip.
As the favourite Pomelo made a beeline for the stands' rail after the turn for home, Kirby stuck to the more direct route down the middle of the track.
She soon scooted into a clear lead and had seven lengths to spare over her rivals at the line, with the penny dropping late for Prado who ran on to deny Seattle Rock second, with Pomelo well beaten.
Cox said: “She has been pleasing all the way. We were looking forward stepping up a furlong as well. Clearly the progeny of Belardo have no difficulty with the soft ground. She has got a lovely nature, we really like her and that was great.
“She has coped with the ground today and I think another furlong would be well within her compass next year. She is an exciting filly.
“She is a really nice filly and I’m thrilled she has shown it on the track as she is very laid back at home, but clearly she knows what it’s about when she goes racing.”
While Cox is now able to celebrate a third victory with Isabella Giles, the result could have been a different story had he decided not to walk the track before racing.
He added: “It’s an age old preference to come to the stands rail here when it gets wet. I went and had a good look as there was a lot of racing on extreme conditions yesterday.
“My stick was telling me that (middle of the track) was my choice and the fact you had to come even further to come over here meant it was a bit of a no-brainer. I went a couple of furlongs as the legs weren’t long enough to go the full seven in the time I had!”
Following the race, Isabella Giles was introduced at 33-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas, however, a trip to Newmarket could take place before next May, with Cox earmarking next month’s Group Two Rockfel Stakes as a possible target.
He added: “I would say the Rockfel will be likely, as long as she comes back from here well. She is thriving with racing and physically she is getting stronger every week. I would be inclined to hope that next year is even better.”
