Queen of the turf Tepin is too good in Woodbine Mile

After racing in perfect position just off the pace in fourth, the formidable five-year-old took command at the head of the stretch before comfortably holding the late run of locally-trained longshot Tower Of Texas by a cosy half-length.

The William Haggas-trained Mutakayyef did best of three European visitors in third without really landing a glove on the odds-on favourite, despite looking a danger a furlong out before his challenge stalled and he was pipped for second by a neck. Fellow British visitor Arod was fifth.

Sent off a fraction short of 1-2, Tepin may not have been spectacular but this was a solid display on her return to domestic action after a three-month layoff following her victory in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

“She got a little tired, she’s been off for three months,” said jockey Julien Leparoux. “From this race, she’s going to get better later in the year. Today we won, but it was also a race to get her ready for the Breeders' Cup."

Trainer Mark Casse watched the race at Churchill Downs, his flight having been grounded by bad weather. “I thought for a minute she was in trouble,” he admitted. “At the quarter pole I thought she was okay and then towards the end I was like, 'Okay, wire, I'm ready for you'.”

Owner Bob Masterson's daughter of Bernstein, who has won 13 of her 21 starts, may reappear at Keeneland next month before defending her Breeders' Cup Mile crown at Santa Anita on November 5. Tepin is favourite for that race, with William Hill offering a best price of 6-4.

Mutakayyef's jockey Dane O’Neill said: "We could have done with a stronger pace but we’d never have beaten the filly. If one or two things had gone in our favour I think we definitely could have been second.”

Royal Ascot representative Nick Smith was also on hand. “I last visited Woodbine the year Wise Dan won the Ricoh Mile and thought that this year, in the context of Tepin running at Royal Ascot and that being newsworthy here, it would be a good time to revisit Canada,” he explained.

“Importantly, the North American audience needed to see the trip to Europe hasn't left any scars on Tepin and connections continue to talk enthusiastically about their visit.

"Of course we hope Royal Ascot will come back on the agenda next year. 'Bat' Masterson is very keen on records and no horse has won two Queen Annes since it became a Group 1, but this trip was about sowing some new seeds too.”

On the same card, last year's Arlington Million winner The Pizza Man landed another big Grade 1 prize when getting the best of a three-way finish from fellow top-level scorers Wake Forest and World Approval in the Northern Dancer Turf.

Unsuited by the moderate fractions, the David Simcock-trained Majeed did well to claim fourth after racing at the rear and being asked to sprint home wide in the stretch.