Bandari continued a great record for trainer Mark Johnston in the Hardwicke Stakes when beating Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's apparent first string Maraahel to give the Middleham handler a fourth success in the Group Two contest.
"We decided to throw caution to the wind as he was not particularly fancied today and decided to try something completely different, we thought we would stick to the far rail whatever. I'm not sure if it made any difference although being on his own seemed to suit him," said Johnston.
"I thought from walking the course that it was not worse on the far rail, the middle was just as rough as the inside.
"It's a race I have a bit of a love affair with and he's a horse that I also have a bit of a love affair with.
"The frustrating thing is that he keeps winning Group 2 races against Group 1 horses without winning a Group 1 himself. He's a bit like Fruits Of Love, who also won the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and won this twice, in that respect.
"We knew he was very well at home and then went to the Coronation Cup thinking it could be his race but then your confidence gets dented when he runs a bad race. It seems he might be saving his best for when he is not running in a big field."
Bandari received quotes of 25/1 for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes from Cashmans and Paddy Power but Johnston added: "I don't know about the King George and it obviously makes a difference that Sheikh Hamdan has other possible contenders."
Jockey Willie Supple added: "We decided before the race that the far rail ground was freshest and hadn't been used so much so made a decision to go for it. It gave Bandari confidence not to go on so quickly and Mr Johnston's team did a great job washing him down beforehand.
"I thought mine would keep going but thought Richard (Hills) had me at one stage before mine found more and battled on."
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