Former Australian champion Starcraft laid claim to being the best miler in Europe when winning the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The much talked-about Group 1 contest attracted a high quality field of six runners and under an aggressive ride from French jockey Christophe Lemaire, Starcraft denied odds-on favourite Dubawi victory by three quarters of a length.

Lemaire was celebrating his second successive Group 1 success aboard the New Zealand-bred Starcraft and first in England.

The talented rider said: "I am so happy and so proud as it is my first Group One in England. He was fantastic. He is just a really tough horse.

"I knew it would be difficult to beat Dubawi but he showed today he is an exceptional horse."

Starcraft is owned by an Australian and trained by an Italian.

Blatant, pacemaker for Dubawi, finished third, a length and a half back, while last year's winner Rakti was fourth.

Lemaire, who rode Starcraft to victory in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp at Longchamp three weeks ago delivered again, outfoxing Frankie Dettori on Dubawi.

Prominent pacemaker

The six runner field split into two groups, with Rakti leading on the outside and Dubawi's pacemaker Blatant prominent on the inner.

Lemaire sent Starcraft into the lead inside the final furlong as Dettori lost valuable ground steering Dubawi over from the middle of the track to the rails to mount his challenge.

But Starcraft never looked like throwing away his winning hand and at the line had three quarters of a length to spare over Godolphin's Irish 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois victor.

Trainer Luca Cumani, who won the QE II with Falbrav two years ago, said: "My biggest emotion was a sense of relief and then I just felt so pleased for the horse, the staff and Paul Makin [owner].

"I have got to thank him for sending the horse all the way from Australia. He told me all along he would be the champion miler of the world with unwavering optimism and I would say we are three-quarters of the way there now.

"I'm not the world's greatest optimist but I did get optimistic watching him work, then I thought about all the things that could go wrong and that kept my feet on the ground.

"After that it was just a case of keeping the horse calm before the race and then letting him do the talking."

Dettori was convinced he was on the moral winner, explaining: "It is so frustrating. I was on the best horse and I got beat - it is as simple as that.

"I was meant to come on the stands' side but unfortunately Rakti and the other one - Mullins Bay - took me too far across and I stayed put in the middle and got beat - it was a costly mistake.

"It did make the difference as I went 20 yards further than the rest, because when they died in the middle I had to come across to the stands' side.

"If I had been drawn better, it would have been easier for me to do what I had wanted," he added.

"I just wish I could ride the race again."

Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford said: "It is very unfortunate. Frankie said he got carried out to the middle and could do nothing about it.

"But it shouldn't detract from the winner though - he is an outstanding global campaigner."

Dubawi was looking to emulate his sire Dubai Millennium who won the QE II in 2000.

Godolphin's other wins in the race came with Mark of Esteem in 1996 and Sumoner in 2001.

RESULTS

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr 1) (3yo +) 1mile:

1. Starcraft 7/2 ( ridden by C P Lemaire) trained by L Cumani ; 2. Dubawi 6/4 Favourite (L Dettori) Saeed Bin Surour; 3. Blatant 100-1 (K McEvoy) Saeed bin Surour; 4. Rakti 9/4 (P Robinson ) M Jarvis.

Distances: 3/4 lengths, 1 1/2, 1 1/2.

Winning Time: 1m 37.87s