Minnie Hauk put a frustrating run of form behind her, shrugging off the demands of her run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) just 13 days ago, to hold off Believed and earn Aidan O'Brien a 22nd group 1 winner of the season.
The ability of horses to come out of races at ParisLongchamp Racecourse two weeks previously is one of the hardest facets of British Champions day to weigh up and, in the case of those who have run in the Arc itself, the question takes on extra dimensions.
Kalpana was successful in that endeavor 12 months ago but, from the moment she was sluggish away from her inside berth, Colin Keane never looked comfortable on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) winner, and the even-money favorite's challenge failed to materialize in the straight.
O'Brien was adamant that Minnie Hauk had never seen enough daylight in the Arc to have a hard race under William Buick, finishing 10th, and here the daughter of Frankel was full value for her fourth victory at group 1 level.
Ryan Moore was able to park up on the outside of pacemaker Sugar Island and Christophe Soumillon, before striking for home shortly after turning in.
"Ryan gave her a beautiful ride and Christophe got the fractions perfect for her," O'Brien said. "She's a very high-class filly. William thought she got caught in there in the Arc and they went slow, and she was a lot better than that on the day.
"Ryan kept it simple on her; he was drawn wide and I thought he was very good on her. We know what she did last year and she had a lot of trouble with corns this year, so we never could get a good run into her. But since the Arc, she's been lovely, everything has been great with her."
There had been mood music before Ascot that it might be Minnie Hauk's final race, but O'Brien held out the possibility that she could roll on to Keeneland in a fortnight's time for the Breeders' Cup.
"The lads will decide whether she goes to America or whether she will retire," O'Brien said. "I know that she's going to Justify at the end of the year."
Last year, Minnie Hauk contested the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar where she finished sixth.
Keane was philosophical after Kalpana appeared to show the effects of a long season, one which took her to a career highlight in the King George and a dogged success in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1), where she had to run down the runaway leader and almost paid for it late on when Sparan Nua came in pursuit.
"York really took the maximum out of her," Keane said. "She was a very tired filly walking in that day and even the last time you could feel it. It's not like her not to ping the gates and travel, it's the complete opposite, but she owes us nothing and thankfully she's finished in one piece."
Believed stuck to the task well in second on what was another step up the ladder following her group 3 win in August at Cork.
Oisin Murphy described her run as "a career best," adding: "We thought she could run great and she's lived up to expectations. On figures, she's actually improved with every single start, without fail."
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