Last year's Gold Cup heroine Estimate got back on the winning trail in the colours of the Queen in the Socialites Electric Cigarettes Doncaster Cup.

Sir Michael Stoute's mare only narrowly failed to successfully defend her crown at Royal Ascot in June and although disappointing on her next appearance at Goodwood, she was back on-song when runner-up in the Lonsdale Cup at York.

Sent off the 11-8 favourite for her latest assignment on Town Moor, Estimate was always in a good position in the hands of Ryan Moore and appeared poised to strike early in the home straight. There was a brief moment of concern as she looked slightly awkward when coming under pressure, with her tongue hanging out, but the further she went the better she looked and she was well on top at the finish.

Whiplash Willie ran a fine race to take second, beaten a length and a quarter, with Irish raider Kalann just a neck away in third. The Ed Dunlop-trained Times Up, bidding for a third successive victory in the two-and-a-quarter-mile Group Two, travelled well for a long way but faded out of contention.

John Warren, the Queen's racing advisor, said: "Ryan said he had a good bit of petrol in the tank. He said her last two runs have brought her back to where she was, which is obviously great. She is such a game filly. The Queen would be so proud, she would have got a real buzz out of it."

Moore confirmed: "She was never going to get beat today. She travelled sweetly and I didn't have anything to really bring me long enough. When she's in front she just waits a bit, but when she feels them coming she battles away. I hadn't really asked her a serious question and there was plenty in the tank."

Stoute said: "It was great seeing her win as she ran such a blinder in the Gold Cup. Goodwood just didn't suit her, it was just too firm for her there.

"She's a lively filly that has a lot of energy and gets bored every now and again. She can be a little bit narky. Her resolution can never be questioned, but she is a character, and they (the staff) do a great job with her.

"I think we have to consider it (Melbourne Cup), but I won't make the final decision. I'm not paying! You'd wonder a bit about the ground at Flemington as she does like a little bit of forgiveness in it. We'll think about it and discuss it with the Queen and John Warren."

Asked whether this would be Estimate's final season, Warren said: "I would say if I asked the Queen the direct question, I think she would almost for sure say 'don't you think she's done us well enough?' It will be the Queen's decision, but it's almost sure (she will retire) I would say."

On a potential trip to Australia, Warren said: "The most important thing would be the welfare of the filly herself. She fundamentally now has her breeding career in front of her and it's very important to protect the process of that. If you get a filly to start off on the wrong leg in her first year at stud, if she's not cycling correctly and doesn't come into season until late, you end up with a very late foal and have to miss a year the following year.

"There are a lot of complexities that have to be taken into account regarding the welfare of the filly in terms of her breeding prospects. Obviously the travelling is a huge ask as well, so there are many complexities. The tempo of the race in Australia is not quite what this filly is about. This filly is about sticking it out and Australia can be a bit stop-start.

"I know there's been huge pressure from the Australians for the Queen to have a runner, understandably, which would be amazing to do. For so many reasons it's good. I would say today another element to the equation was the ground was kind to her, whereas at Goodwood it was fast. I think Australia probably has quick ground.

"I sound as though I'm talking myself out of the Melbourne Cup, but there are a number of people that will have an input. The French race (Prix du Cadran) is probably the right race for her, but the ground could be bottomless in Paris, so that will have a bearing. We'll talk to Ryan (Moore), obviously Michael (Stoute) will have a view.

"There are only three options - Ascot (Champions Day), Paris and Melbourne. My hunch is she probably won't go to Australia. Ascot could be favourite in the sense that the Queen could see her race again, but Ascot is two miles whereas the French race is further.

"We'll stick all the heads together, put a proposition to the Queen and see which way she feels it will go forward. I know the Queen's most important thing will be about the welfare of the filly."

Whiplash Willie's jockey David Probert said: "He's galloped all the way to the line and handled the ground as we thought it might be a bit quick. He's so genuine and tries his heart out. Since his injury he's come back stronger but we knew he had ability. Hopefully he can get his head in front before the season is out, he should have his ground."

Leigh Roche, rider of Kalann, said: "I thought he might lack the class of a few of these but the key to him is the trip. He'd have preferred the ground even faster as three out I thought he might have won. He's run a great race and for my first ride here that was some thrill."

Peter Niven's stable star Clever Cookie has come a long way since running over hurdles last winter and ran a stormer to finish fourth.

Niven said: "He's run a fantastic race. After the Ebor we went easy on him as the ground was quick enough that day, he could do with it being softer than it was today really. I said to Graham (Lee) to drop him in and he's come home strongly.

"He'll be a Cup horse next year, especially on softer ground. I don't know if he runs again this year but handicaps are out. That was a Group Two with Group One winners. Hurdles are out, why risk him for £15,000?"