Dubai: Two weeks after finishing unplaced in the Epsom Derby (Group 1), the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Across The Stars redeemed himself by posting an impressive victory in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, a race that was established in 1834 as The Ascot Derby.

Victory in the 2,400 metre contest was just compensation for Stoute’s colt who bruised a leg just before the Epsom, resulting in him finishing 10th of 16 runners in the Blue Riband.

On Friday, with Frankie Dettori sporting the Epsom Derby-winning colours of Dubai businessman Saeed Suhail, Across The Stars showed himself to be an exciting horse for the future when winning by 1¼ from Ryan Moore’s Beacon Rock, while Muntaha, ridden by Paul Hanagan a head behind in third.

Muntaha, who is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, showed significant improvement from his maiden success at Kempton Park albeit appearing to be a trifle outpaced in the closing stages.

Dettori, who was notching a fourth Royal Ascot winner of the week, told Channel 4 Racing: “To win the ‘Ascot Derby’ is great. Michael has been hitting the crossbar and I’m pleased to get him a winner.

“He’s a master trainer and he had this horse well prepared for today. He didn’t come down the hill at Epsom, (but) he handled this track really well and we won.”

Stoute, who moved to within one victory of the late Sir Henry Cecil’s record tally of 75 Royal Ascot winners, added: “He can be a little impetuous, but he’s growing up. He’s a big horse with a lot of developing to do, physically and mentally.

“We’ve always liked him and I liked the way he battles. He’s a good-actioned horse and a good athlete and he’ll get stronger.

“We paid a lot of money for him (Dh3.14 million £600,000) and he’s justified it now. He’s run to a pretty good standard today. I would doubt he’ll stay the St Leger trip — I would say that is highly unlikely. We’ll stop and think (about plans). There’s no hurry.”

Saeed Suhail, who won the Epsom Derby 12 years before with Kris Kin, 2004, was observing Ramadan in Dubai and as a result was not present at Ascot to see his star-in-the-making win.

Dinesh P.C., Saeed Suhail’s general manager in Dubai, told Gulf News: “Mr Suhail thinks very highly of this horse. He was very pleased to run him in the Derby and I’m sure he will be delighted to have won a race like this at Royal Ascot.

“Kieren Fallon, who we all know is a very good judge of horses told Mr. Suhail that Across The Stars was special and that he can’t remember riding such a nice three-year-old in his career.”

Stoute was recording his 74th success at Royal Ascot, which put his just the one win behind the late Sir Henry Cecil record Royal Ascot tally of 75 wins.

“I’m not consciously (chasing Cecil’s record). He was a great character and a very gifted racehorse trainer,” said Stoute. “Thank god he had Frankel in those closing stages when he was putting up such a fight.”

Meanwhile, the Karle Burke-trained Quiet Refection won the Group 1 Commomwealth Cup under a very confident ride by jockey Dougie Costello while the other Group 1 contest on the card, the Coronations Stakes was claimed the French raider Qemah, ridden in emphatic fashion by Gregory Benoist for trainer Jean Claude Rouget.