Hayley Turner first woman Grade One winner as she lifts July Cup

Hayley Turner became the first female jockey to win a British Group One outright as Dream Ahead returned to his most powerful best in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

If the 28-year-old was not already the most accomplished of her sex in the history of Flat racing in this country, having already been the first woman to reach 100 winners in a calendar year and to share the champion apprentice title, her marginal improvement on Alex Greaves' dead-heat in the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes confirmed her status.

Turner was the focus of the cameras, but trainer David Simcock was keen to credit the horse, who finished last season rated equal top two-year-old with the incredible Frankel thanks to an impressive victory in the Middle Park Stakes.

Opportunities to run in the 2000 Guineas and its Irish and French equivalents were ruled out because of the quick ground and Dream Ahead (7-1) did not threaten Frankel on his reappearance in the St James's Palace Stakes. But a return to the sprinting distance of six furlongs showed him in his very best light.

Turner's only issue during the race was to avoid Steve Drowne and Bated Breath drifting across her colt in the concluding stages, but she swept past him almost effortlessly in the end and had far more in hand than the official half-length.

The Nottinghamshire-born rider is based with Michael Bell and is booked by many other top trainers, but is still usually overlooked on the major occasions.

She was replacing Dream Ahead's usual partner William Buick, who was required at York.