Lady Florence had finished runner-up on her two most recent outings at the seaside venue, and went one place better by making all of the running under Liam Keniry as the 5-2 favourite.

Coogan, who went to 4,400 guineas to keep hold of the four-year-old, said: "She is getting better with age, but has had several problems.

"She was caught on the line a few times, and we realised that she had a throat problem.

"We operated on that and she hasn't looked back since."

Jamie Spencer only had the two rides on the south coast, but still hit the target aboard 11-4 favourite Halfway House in the FastwebMedia Handicap.

Market rival Vita Mia opened up a handy advantage meeting the rising ground, only for Spencer to unleash the Michael Bell-trained winner, part-owned by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, and lead in the dying strides.

Spencer commented: "I feared I would get the legendary Sir Alex hairdryer treatment if I got beat!"

Jockey William Carson's pre-racing walk of the track paid off as the young rider ploughed a lone furrow along the stands rail to capture the C&S Rubbish Clearance Handicap with Itsher.

While the 11 other runners raced along the far side of the course, Carson brought Stuart Williams' 5-2 favourite away from the main pack.

His bold move resulted in a striking four-and-a-half-length victory over Namu.

Carson said: "I walked the course before racing and with the official vehicles driving along the stands rail you could see it was quicker.

"We weren't drawn too well and to race on the better ground is a big advantage."

Williams added: "She is in the sales next week, but is also entered here again on Sunday.

"She may run again if she comes out of this OK."

Another wide-margin success emerged from the Harding's Catering Maiden Stakes as 11-10 favourite Rocky's Pride struck by four lengths under champion jockey Ryan Moore.

The whole field came stands side on this occasion, and Jeremy Noseda's market leader drew nicely clear to open his account at the third attempt.

Noseda's travelling head lad, Les Simpson, said: "He has handled the track and ground, and Ryan gave him a great ride.

"He is in the sales next week, but I don't know if he will go now."

Moore completed a double in the Jimmy Heal Memorial Handicap by galvanising Orpen's Art (7-1) to score in good style.

The locally-born rider missed out on a treble, though, as 13-8 favourite Rocket Rob weakened into third behind Cavendish Road (9-2) in the Killer Creative Handicap.

Mark Prescott capitalised upon his only runner of the afternoon as Rough Sketch (7-1) overhauled 5-2 favourite Penang Cinta to take the virtualage.co.uk Handicap by a length.