The longchamp heroine Danedream bounced back to win a gripping contest in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The German filly trained by Peter Schiergen edged out the defending champion Nathaniel in a nail biting finish. Nathaniel who had settled in about fourth position, started to move closer to the leaders 3 furlongs out and went ahead to lead approaching the last furlong while Danedream was steadily closing up from mid-field. Jockey Andrasch Starke went in hot pursuit of Nathaniel and William Buick refused to give up and kept his boy going strong. The two went head for head throughout the final furlong and crossed the winning post locked together. It was a very close finish and the naked eye could not point the winner with conviction. Danedream had put her head down at the all important end to get the verdict in her favour by a nose.

"It was close, it was only a nose, but I hoped the photo-finish went my way and it did," said winning rider Andrasch Starke. An elated Schiergen, who led in Danedream to a thunderous applause said: "I thought we were second and now it's better that we are first. She didn't travel in her last race and there wasn't a good pace but today there was a good pace and it was good for her. It's a great feeling and this was very important for Germany. I think we will go to Baden Baden for a small Group 1 and then she will go back to the Arc. She won the race with her head and her heart."