Refuse To Bend bounced back to his best to give Godolphin their sixth success in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday.

Last season's 2000 Guineas winner had shown little in his two starts this year, including in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, and he had looked a shadow of his former self.

However, he regained his form here under Frankie Dettori with a neck call over the filly Soviet Song, with Salselon a strong-finishing third, three-quarters of a length away.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford was relieved at the outcome.

He said: ''It was a most disappointing effort in the Lockinge because he's a top-notch horse. We don't know what went wrong - there was no explanation.

''Frankie rode him in Dubai in February and he said he would be a very serious horse, and we've all been scratching our heads.''

Dettori was also delighted to see the horse, a 12-1 shot, back to his best. He said: ''I've been as worried as everyone else. He always worked good and we couldn't work out why he ran so badly in Dubai and the Lockinge.

''We have all dug deep and the team did a good job to get him back. He travelled really good today, even when he was boxed in he was going well.''

Connections had been considering stepping Refuse To Bend up to ten furlongs for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes today but Crisford said: ''Sheikh Mohammed saw him work two days ago and said keep him to the mile rather than the Prince Of Wales's. For the time being we'll stick to a mile.''

Godolphin's previous wins in the race, run as a Group One contest for the first time last year, were Charnwood Forest (1996), Allied Forces (1997), Intikhab (1998), Cape Cross (1999) and Dubai Destination (2003).

''This race has been a lucky race for us,'' said Crisford. ''We've had some top-class older milers and he stacks up with the best of them.''

Soviet Song could take on the fillies again in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket next month, while Salselon may be stepped up to a mile and a quarter in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York's Ebor meeting.

''If Salselon shows the same speed over that trip as he does over a mile he could be quite formidable,'' his trainer Luca Cumani commented.

Dettori picked up a one-day ban (June 26) for excessive use of the whip on the winner.

The Tatling completed a rags to riches story with victory in the King's Stand Stakes.

Claimed by Chepstow trainer Milton Bradley for £15,000 after winning at Catterick in July 2002, the 8-1 chance belied those humble beginnings by producing an impressive finishing burst under Darryll Holland to net the £81,200 first prize by a length and a half from Hong Kong raider Cape Of Good Hope.

Frizzante was a neck back in third in the five-furlong Group Two contest.

The Tatling was winning his fifth race for Bradley, enjoying his first Royal Ascot success, and the trainer said: ''He's the best horse we've ever trained.

''He was magic today. He's a little horse I thought could win these sort of races.

''We've been abroad with him earlier in the year and we never really had him quite 100 per cent, but I thought he was today.

''I was confident, but we are only a little stable taking them all on.''

Holland added: ''He's been running in France and they've been going no pace and he hates that.

''They went like absolute dynamite today and I thought I'd just ride him like a proper horse. They went very quick and he picked up real well.''

Recalling the reason why he claimed him, Bradley said: ''He'd shown a bit of magic at two but he'd had a lot of problems and I thought if I could mend his problems he'd be all right.

''His knees give him trouble. He's got nuts and bolts and pins in his knees but they seem all right now.''

Cape Of Good Hope could be out again on Saturday in the Golden Jubilee Stakes if none the worse for his run in the King's Stand.

There was a sad postscript when Dubaian Gift collapsed and died after the race.

Iceman came from an unpromising position to take the Coventry Stakes under a powerful ride from Kieren Fallon.

The John Gosden-trained colt still had plenty to do at halfway in the six-furlong Group Two contest and appeared to be struggling with the champion jockey hard at work.

But Iceman, the 5-1 joint-favourite, answered all Fallon's calls and picked up in great style to catch his market rival, Godolphin's Council Member, well inside the final furlong to score by half a length.

Capable Guest kept on well from the rear to claim third spot, a further length and a half away.

Gosden said: ''I told Kieren that he's a little bit lazy but when I saw him crossing the road last and Kieren was rowing away, I thought he needs a mile, never mind seven.

''But Kieren is a genius at threading through a field. He weaved his way through very cleverly and when I saw that at the furlong pole he had a clear run I knew he'd win. He can handle any ground.''

Iceman will now enjoy a break before being prepared for an autumn campaign.

Mark Johnston, who has been leading trainer at the Royal meeting for the past two years, saddled his 20th winner at the prestigious fixture when Double Obsession (25-1) ran away with the Ascot Stakes in the hands of John Egan.

The jockey was opening his Royal Ascot account, as were Newmarket trainer Nick Littmoden and apprentice Tom Queally when Chateau Istana (12-1) took the closing Windsor Castle Stakes.