Midday was made to work hard to land back-to-back runnings of the Blue Square Nassau Stakes on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.
When Tom Queally sent the 15-8 favourite into the lead with two furlongs remaining it looked as though the four-year-old would run away with the Group One. However, she idled alarmingly in front and was caught by Stacelita, who found extra under Christophe Soumillion.
The presence of another horse did the trick for Midday and she picked up again to power away for a length and a quarter success.
Queally and Soumillion were summoned to the stewards’ room after coming together during the race but the interference was deemed minimal and the placings remained unaltered.
"They went very slowly and there was no pace. It was more like a mile race - she quickened clear and thought she had done enough before deciding to quicken again," Cecil said
"She is getting a bit lazy and prefers to quicken gradually. She likes a strong pace and thought she had done enough, but quickened when the second came to her.
"She is a good filly and I am so pleased for the Prince (Khalid Abdullah, owner). She is stronger than last year and has a heavier shoulder. She doesn't like quick ground and if it was firm she wouldn't have run.
"She got jarred up at York last time and took a long time to get over it. I have to be careful with her, but so long as the ground is not quick she will hopefully run in the Yorkshire Oaks next.
"Hopefully she will have a good end-of-year campaign and the Breeders' Cup is in the mix."
Stacelita's trainer Jean Claude-Rouget will also consider sending his filly to America for the Breeders' Cup later in the year.
"I thought we'd won when Midday stopped but my hopes were short-lived. I think Midday was a bit better than us today and she knew the track
"Deauville might be too soon for her. The Prix de l'Opera and the Breeders' Cup are possible longer-term targets."