Esoterique wore down last year's winner Integral to take the Group One spoils in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

Successful on soft ground in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on her previous start, Andre Fabre's five-year-old pounced on the long-time leader to win cosily.

Ryan Moore attempted to make all as he had done in this race 12 months ago, but his fellow jockeys were wiser this time round and did not allow him an easy lead.

Irish Rookie put in a strong challenge before Pierre-Charles Boudot produced Esoterique (11-8 favourite) with a well-timed run to lead inside the last half-furlong and win by half a length. Irish Rookie was a length and a half away in third.

Paddy Power left Esoterique unchanged at 6-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in two weeks' time but cut her to 9-2 from 6s for the Breeders' Cup Mile. RaceBets quote the winner at 7-1 for the Ascot race.

"She showed something new which I wasn't expecting, she showed a lot of courage and guts. She had to fight," Fabre told Racing UK.

"She's got stronger this year. She's five now and is easy to train, we know her by heart.

"She could go for the Ascot race if she recovers well. She might be supplemented for the Breeders' Cup. She can go to Japan, to Hong Kong and she might stay in training next year as well."

[www.britishhorseracing.com] - Photograph - Courtesy britishhorseracing.com