Charlie Appleby’s Silent Love took her form to a new level when landing the Group 3 The Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket under a fine front-running Billy Loughnane ride.

With Buick opting to partner the German 1000 Guineas disappointment Spirited Style, Loughnane was drafted in for Silent Love, who was looking to complete the hat-trick

Always towards the fore, Loughnane asked his mount for more coming out of the dip and although the challengers were persistently snapping at the longtime leader's heels, she dug deep inside the final furlong to deny the running on Karmology by a neck.

Ralph Beckett's Revoir finished three parts further back in third.

"I'm pleased with that, it was obviously a great front-running ride by Billy and she's a filly that stays and stays well," said Appleby.

"We purposely popped her out in front and let her get into a rhythm as we knew she'd stay, whether she'd be good enough we didn't know, but she kept galloping, and I can't really fault her.

"Spirited Style had run in the German Oaks and was disappointing, but we put a line through that as she didn't handle the track at all and on home evidence, she's probably got a bit more dash than Silent Love, which is why William was on her.

"I'd say they went a nice gallop without going end to end, which probably suited the filly in front and might not have suited the filly that was dropped out.

"At this time of year everyone is talking about what's going to be retired, but I'd say this filly might be worth keeping in training and working back from the mile and six (furlong) races next year."

Earlier on the card, Charlie Johnston's talented New Bay filly Francophone bounced right back to her best to claim the opening Listed Rosemary Stakes.

A homebred daughter of New Bay from owner-breeder Miss Kirsten Rausing, who silks were famously carried to Arc success by Alpinista three years ago, Francophone arrived at Newmarket looking for a first victory since her win in the Height Of Fashion Stakes (Listed) at Goodwood last May.

Held up at the rear of the field by Joe Fanning following a sluggish beginning, she made eye-catching headway under the near side rail before swooping late on to peg back Hey Boo by three parts of a length, with stablemate Arisaig back in third.

Winning handler Charlie Johnston said: "She's a talented filly and based on her Listed win at Goodwood last year I would have hoped that this year she'd be competing above this level really.

"The wheels came off a bit in the middle part of this season. She did have tough trip round in the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract last time when she was stuck wide and to be honest a week ago, I was all for dropping her back into a handicap, but the ground was bottomless at Ayr, so we decided against it.

"Joe came in last Friday and had a sit on her and I just thought this filly was back to her best, so I thought let's not muck around in a handicap and get back in some black type races."