HAMPSHIRE trainer David Elsworth celebrated his 12th Royal Ascot winner when Duty Paid battled to a thrilling victory at the showpiece meeting on Saturday.

Ridden by Richard Quinn the filly snatched the £23,200 Henry Carnarvon Albany Stakes in the final strides of the six-furlong Listed race for juveniles.

It was a fine performance by the daughter of Barathea who had been plum last of the 19 runners in the early stages, in contrast to her Sandown win over five furlongs barely a week earlier when she had made most of the running.

"I didn't think she was Queen Mary Stakes material as that was a five-furlong race on the second day of the Royal fixture - she is far better suited by the extra furlong. Richard says she is still a bit of a baby and was unbalanced once or twice but she is an improving filly who will become a really nice horse in time," said Elsworth whose yard is at Whitsbury, near Fordingbridge.

Duty Paid, who started at 11-1, runs in the colours of Southampton businessman Jeff Smith and was making up for the Gold Cup defeat of his grand stayer Persian Punch, another Elsworth inmate.

Elsworth was in the money earlier in the week too when Indian Creek, also ridden by Quinn, belied his odds of 25-1 to finish second to Grandera in the £145,000 Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs.