Punters looking for Classic clues were left scratching their heads after Solaia spoiled the party at Chester today.
Vodafone Oaks entries Tanzilla and Abscond were expected to stake their Epsom claims in the Shadwell Stud Cheshire Oaks and the pair were sent off 9-4 joint favourites.
But both wrote themselves out of the Classic picture as the former faded into third place after leading to the furlong-pole while Abscond was never able to challenge and trailed in last of five.
Instead Solaia, unplaced in four outings since a winning debut at Newmarket last July, swooped late under Jimmy Fortune to land the Listed event over 11 and a half furlongs by a length from fellow 10-1 outsider Inforapenny.
"She's not even been the bridesmaid of late - she's been behind the photographer!" quipped Paul Webber, racing manager to winning owner Faisal Salman.
"But when we bought her at Keeneland we thought she would stay and that made the difference today.
"Prince Faisal will be thrilled and delighted and if she gets further she could get a Group race placing."
Webber reckoned it unlikely that trainer Paul Cole will supplement Solaia for the Vodafone Oaks.
But each of the placed fillies could bid for overseas Classic success.
Richard Fahey said of Inforapenny: "She's not a bad filly, though I would have preferred it if they had gone a good gallop today, and she is in the Irish Oaks."
Tanzilla's undaunted trainer Clive Brittain added: "We will probably go for the Italian Oaks. We would have been helped by more juice in the ground today."
Punters had a happier time earlier as well-backed pair Railroader and Kompliment took advantage of favourable draws to land popular victories.
After Railroader had justified support from a morning 14-1 into 6-1 second favourite for the 16-runner Tess Graham Memorial Handicap, Toby Balding revealed that he had been aimed at the six-furlong event for some time.
"This has been his race since the start of the season," the trainer said.
"We fancied him as he had been working very well with Duke of Modena, who has won twice recently. He ran a very satisfactory comeback race at Warwick and he has trained on well from his good two-year-old form.
"He could be on our team for some time and as an older horse he could be an Ayr Gold Cup horse."
Two-year-old Kompliment took full advantage of a plum draw in stall one to land the Bank of Scotland Maiden Stakes for local trainer Alan Bailey.
The 100-30 shot made all under Kieren Fallon, who was able to take things easy in the final furlong yet still maintain a half-length advantage over runner-up Ragamuffin.
Kompliment had disappointed when only fourth on his debut at Newmarket three weeks previously.
Bailey said: "We fancied him at Newmarket but it poured down and very few horse by Komaite can handle the soft.
"I thought he would win today and I had a few quid on.
"Kieren liked him a lot but I am not sure where he will run next, and I don't know how good a race this was."
