ARABIAN QUEEN sprang one of the bigger shocks in recent racing memory as the 50-1 shot shattered Derby hero Golden Horn’s unbeaten record to win the Juddmonte International at York Racecourse.

In scenes reminiscent of Brigadier Gerard’s defeat in the inaugural race 43 years ago, a packed Knavesmire was silenced as the 4-9 favourite lost by a neck in the £914,000 mile-and-a-quarter contest, the feature race of the four-day Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

Arabian Queen, the mount of former Thirsk-based jockey Silvestre de Sousa, and Golden Horn, ridden to Epsom and Eclipse glory this year by Frankie Dettori, duelled through the last quarter of a mile.

It wasn’t the head-to-head that had been expected but the good to soft ground, following Tuesday’s heavy rainfall, had forced the withdrawal of Ballydoyle’s dual-Guineas winner Gleneagles before the off.

Golden Horn was backed like defeat was impossible but the three-year-old seemed to be unsettled early on. Half-way down the home straight, however, it looked like he would win his sixth consecutive contest as he ranged alongside Arabian Queen.

But she dug deep, even going a head down, before rallying and becoming the first filly to win York’s signature race since One So Wonderful in 1998.

A thrilled de Sousa said: "She's not an easy filly to deal with, she can be a bit of a madam at home. She has her own ideas about the game, but is obviously very talented.

"I had a clear run, picked the pacemaker up two furlongs out and I always felt I had a bit left.

"I couldn't say I was confident coming here - she was 50-1- but she had been third in a Group 1 on her last run, she's bred to get further and ran right to the line."

Golden Horn’s trainer John Gosden added: "Golden Horn was too fresh and keen and he did too much, too early. Frankie found it hard to settle him for the first six furlongs and he gassed himself out.

"He got in front, but I think we know now he's definitely better on faster ground and the filly just outstayed him.

"It was a real pity it rained and a real pity Gleneagles didn't run.

"You could see he was throwing his head about and he simply burnt too much petrol. The filly had run in the Nassau so take nothing away from her, she's very good.”