Trainer John Gosden described the occasion at Ascot as "something a bit special" after Taghrooda became the first three-year-old filly to claim the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in almost four decades.

While a great race had been anticipated, the Oaks winner delivered a performance of such authority that connections of three-length runner-up Telescope and third-placed Mukhadram were simply satisfied with their lot.

It had been owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's late decision to pitch Taghrooda against males and older rivals and decline the safer route of the Irish Oaks, and she could yet be given the chance to define herself as a rarer breed still by heading on to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Taghrooda, who is now unbeaten in four starts, was a 7-2 chance against the 5-2 favourite Telescope, who had been impressive in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and was representing the King George master Sir Michael Stoute.

The weight-for-age scale means Telescope and Eclipse winner Mukhadram were required to carry over a stone more than Taghrooda, but the pair were obviously physically stronger as well as being more experienced.

Paul Hanagan, Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey, has usually ridden Mukhadram positively from the front, but was happy to watch William Haggas's five-year-old from afar on Taghrooda as Dane O'Neill took himself past the pacemaker Leitir Mor.

Mukhadram made his habitual bold break around the home bend but this was a different race to the Eclipse, over a longer distance, and Telescope was sent about his business by Ryan Moore.

For a moment, it appeared Taghrooda would be settling for an honourable third, but she almost seemed to sense her chance of a precious achievement and surged past Telescope inside the final furlong to match the feat of just two other Classic generation fillies in Dahlia (1973) and Pawneese (1976).

"It was a special performance and I'm very glad Sheikh Hamdan made the correct decision," said Gosden.

"She's right up there and would have to be the best filly I've had over a mile and a half. The Fugue would have beaten anything over a mile and a quarter and Royal Heroine was the best at a mile.

"She'd done very well since Epsom, she's bigger and stronger, more powerful and I thought he (Hanagan) rode a beautiful race on her. They went hard up front and he settled well back.

"When they straightened up I thought the Hardwicke and the Eclipse winners would be hard to pass. Up to the furlong pole it was in doubt, but in that last furlong she showed her class and stamina. It was a great performance.

"Sheikh Hamdan retires his fillies at three and it was a very bold decision. Going to the Irish Oaks would have been a defensive move. I think Sheikh Hamdan will place all of my horses now."

Taghrooda is a daughter of the marvellous Sea The Stars, and is only 3-1 with Ladbrokes (5s with Paddy Power and Boylesports) to emulate her sire at Longchamp in October.

Gosden added: "It would make some sense, but it's entirely up to the owner. She's still a three-year-old filly and there's a decent weight allowance. Races like the Yorkshire Oaks and then the Arc - that's probably a nice pattern for her."

Hanagan said: "I actually heard the roar as I headed up the straight - I'd never heard a crowd react like that before. This season has been amazing and that just capped it all off. It was such a buzz and something that you never think would happen."

Of Telescope, Highclere representative Harry Herbert said: "She's a really special filly, and we've run a terrific race. There are no complaints - we've seriously bumped into one. It's disappointing not to win, but if I said I was standing here having finished second in the King George and it was all depressing, I'd be lying. It was a joy to watch a filly as good as that."

Mukhadram may join Taghrooda at York next month and trainer William Haggas said: "We've run really well again. It looks like he got the trip, and I was as proud as punch. I'd say he'll go to the Juddmonte (International), why not?"

Gosden's Eagle Top, the supplemented three-year-old, was an honourable fourth ahead of Irish duo Trading Leather and Magician, whose trainer Aidan O'Brien told the stewards he was unsuited by the ground.