So Mi Dar leapt towards the head of the market for the Investec Oaks after maintaining her unbeaten record with victory in the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom.
After making a winning debut at Windsor back in October, the John Gosden-trained filly turned over the colts in the mile-and-a-quarter conditions event to make it two victories from as many starts.
Steadied close to the rear early on by Frankie Dettori, the 3-1 shot - a daughter of triple Group One-winning mare Dar Re Mi - moved through to take a much more prominent position halfway down the home straight as odds-on favourite Claudio Monteverdi backed out of the equation.
Despite her jockey dropping his whip, So Mi Dar hit the front just outside the final furlong and had enough in hand to hold off the late challenge of Humphrey Bogart by a neck to give Dettori and Gosden their second straight win in the race after Christophermarlowe struck 12 months ago.
Gosden said: "We are delighted with her. She was a little gassy early on but Frankie dropped her out and got her settled nicely, then he threw his whip away around three furlongs out.
"She started idling in front, which is a good sign, and she just was pushed out hands and heels.
"We came here to see if she would handle the track and with a bit of luck she will go to the Musidora (York) then hopefully come back here for the Oaks.
"The ground was soft enough for her and she will be better on better ground."
Dettori said: "I rode her in some work the other day and she gave me a good feel.
"It was a big task, taking on the colts, but she is very neat and compact.
"She just run a touch green three out but at the two-pole I had them covered, then I lost my whip.
"Once in front she idled a bit but she still had something left.
"If I could have given her a back-hander I could have pulled away. She is a quick learner and a good traveller.
"She is entitled to be there (Musidora) and I think there is more to come from her."
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