Rakti and Philip Robinson were successful again

Philip Robinson's mount Rakti mastered the damp conditions to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

In the final Group One race at the legendary Berkshire track before it closes for 20 months to undergo a major refurbishment, Rakti took up an ideal position and grabbed the lead midway through the race after Blatant had made the early running.

The Mark Johnston-trained Lucky Story challenged in the closing stages as Rakti tired slightly, but finished half a length adrift.

Refuse To Bend, Frankie Dettori's mount, who won the 2,000 Guineas last year, was bunched in on the outside of the rails and finished in third place.

Favourite Soviet Song, who had won three Group One races in succession, was never able to get into contention and trailed home in mid-division.

Rakti was a runaway winner last time out at Ascot in the Prince of Wales Stakes, but looked unsettled when beaten in his previous two outings.

I said he felt like a top-class miler Phillip Robinson, on Rakti

Trainer Michael Jarvis said: "He's a horse that give us problems - not so much at home but on the racecourse.

He gets wound up, but today he was very good and he was able to canter down last, which helped.

"I thought he had the speed to win a top-class mile race, but when you are good at 10 furlongs it's difficult to say categorically that is the thing to do."

Triumphant jockey Robinson enthused: "I felt the other horse coming but mine just pulled out a bit more and did what was necessary.

"I was astounded the first time I ever sat on the horse to be told he had won over a mile and a half in Italy.

"I said to Michael at the time that he felt like a top-class miler - and he has shown that today.

"Normally you get a true gallop over a mile but over a mile and quarter it can get tactical and people mess you about."

1 Rakti (P Robinson) 9-2
2 Lucky Story (D Holland) 16-1
3 Refuse To Bend (L Dettori) 4-1
11 ran

Oaks favourite Playful Act produced a masterful performance to win the Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile at Ascot.

Playful Act and Jimmy Fortune continued their winning partnership

Despite persistent rain the going remained good to firm, as it was at Doncaster when the horse triumphed there.

Jimmy Fortune's mount made the running in the early stages and kept out of trouble to surge to the line by a length.

The 15-8 favourite Echelon was boxed in at the back of the field and was twice checked.

1 Playful Act (J Fortune) 11-4
2 Maids Causeway (M Hills) 7-1
3 Dash To The Top (D Holland) 16-1
All nine ran