Attraction's unbeaten record was brought to an end at Newmarket yesterday as Soviet Song turned in a sparkling performance to put the young pretender in her place.

Three times a Group One winner already this season, Middleham-trained Attraction was understandably sent off an odds-on favourite to make it nine wins from nine starts in the UAE Equestrian And Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes.

But having comfortably proved too good for her own age group on every occasion, the step up in grade to meet the big boys - or to be accurate, big girls - proved just too much as the four-year-old Soviet Song swept past a furlong out to win by two and a half lengths.

In the process, the 11-4 second-favourite gave Johnny Murtagh a first-ever victory on Newmarket's July course - a remarkable statistic given that the Irishman has ridden top-class winners all around the world.

Attraction rallied bravely under Kevin Darley as her rival drew alongside, but she never really looked like fending off the challenge and had to settle for the first runner-up spot of her career, two and a half lengths clear of third-home Baqah, after trying to lead all the way.

With Attraction's appearance reported to have put at least an extra 2,000 on to the usual crowd figure for the opening day of the July meeting, it was no surprise that a slightly subdued cheer emerged from the stands as the runners passed the winning post.

But enough members of the 15,000-strong Elite Racing Club were there to ensure there was a more fitting roar of welcome as Soviet Song, the filly they own and will ultimately breed from, made her way back into the winner's enclosure.

Trainer James Fanshawe led the tributes to his filly, who looked destined for great things but never quite lived up to her juvenile form, despite finishing fourth in last year's 1000 Guineas and second in the Coronation Stakes.

''I'm really pleased for the filly. Obviously it's a pity to spoil the Attraction party, but she had achieved an awful lot,'' Fanshawe said. ''We felt that really she had been in front a bit too long when she was pipped by Refuse To Bend in the Queen Anne last time out and so Johnny said he was going to sit in behind and wait. It paid off and he gave her a great ride.

''It was great on Saturday when Refuse To Bend won the Eclipse and we hoped we would have a chance today.

''I've said it time and again, I know, but she has really blossomed this season."

Attraction's trainer Mark Johnston was stoic in his acceptance of defeat as he stood next to his beaten yet unbowed warrior.

''I have prepared myself so many times for her getting beaten that now it has finally happened, I am ready for it,'' he said.

''We knew it had to happen. They have all got to get beaten one day. I am a little disappointed it was today, but life goes on.

''Kevin is adamant that they were going fast enough, but at halfway I was starting to get worried.

"I know that the race was run in a fast time but she hadn't got them working at all in behind and Soviet Song was able to come there and outspeed us, maybe taking Kevin and the filly a little bit by surprise.

''It was a weight-for-age race and if we had run up to our best we would have won. We were 4lb ahead of Soviet Song on the ratings. Time will tell whether we were below par.''

Darley added: ''I'm gutted, but I've no excuses. She was just beaten by a better filly on the day.''

Provided that no obvious reason for her defeat does come to light, the end of Attraction's winning sequence is unlikely to alter plans for her immediate future.

''I never like to look too far ahead,'' Johnston said. ''But I certainly see no reason to change our plans.

''I took her out of the Sussex Stakes this morning, taking the view that the undulations would not suit her.

''But there are still plenty of races for us to consider and now is the time to go home and regroup.''

Meanwhile, Jewel In The Sand maintained her unbeaten record when just prevailing under an enterprising ride from Richard Hughes in a thrilling finish to the Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes.

Hughes dashed her into the lead a furlong out and she soon went clear, but then Salsa Brava was produced with a storming late burst.

She closed with every stride, but the post agonisingly came too soon for her and Jewel In The Sand (2-1) held on by a head.