Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team received their first piece of good news in some time when Farhh emerged a convincing winner of the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Still dogged by the scandal which saw trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni banned for eight years for administering anabolic steroids to horses in his care, a first British Group One victory of the year will be among the most welcome of more than 200 now collected globally by Godolphin at the top level.

What was also a first domestic Group One win for jockey Silvestre de Sousa was achieved in a matter-of-fact way, with Farhh (100-30) drawing four lengths clear of 80-1 outsider Sovereign Debt in spite of a warning from trainer Saeed bin Suroor that he might not be competitive in his first start of the season.

Creeping into the lead with a furlong remaining, Farhh, who was beaten into second last year in both the Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte International by the now-retired Frankel, put down an early marker for the summer's prestige events, with Aidan O'Brien's 5-4 favourite Declaration Of War weakening meekly into fifth and the proven Cityscape tailing off.

Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said: "He [Farhh] won really well, it did surprise me as he has been a very difficult horse to train and Saeed has had to tip-toe very quietly with him.

"It's fantastic, particularly after all the problems we have had in the last few weeks. Obviously Saeed is nothing to do with that issue but he has put us back into pole position. It's important, a great boost to the stable."

Looking towards Royal Ascot, Crisford added: "We were slightly concerned about the trip today but he [Farhh] did it so well that maybe we will go to the Queen Anne. He'll be entered for the Queen Anne and Prince of Wales' Stakes and we'll see what Sheikh Mohammed wants to do.

"He deserved it, he kept on finishing second to the best horse of all time last year, so to see him win a Group One was fantastic."

Bin Suroor will assume control of the Al Zarooni string as soon as the British Horseracing Authority reveals the test results of all Godolphin's Newmarket horses, while Crisford hopes to announce the clear-up of Godolphin's internal investigation over the next few days.

Jockey de Sousa said: "He [Farrh] has been great for us. It's brilliant for the horse and for the team."

Michael Bell had taken a big chance with Sovereign Debt, who had a slightly rough passage but stayed on with determination just a neck ahead of Aljamaaheer. "I wasn't surprised to see him run well. This was a career-best, for sure," Bell said.

Godolphin earlier landed the JLT Aston Park Stakes when last year's Ebor winner Willing Foe (4-1) took his opponents to pieces in similar style. Crisford said: "This mile and six-furlong trip suited and two miles would be within his [Willing Foe's] compass.

"Two-and-a-half miles for the Ascot Gold Cup would be a big question mark. He'd be up against better horses who might find him out."

Meanwhile at Newmarket, Dundonnell returned to winning ways in the Coral King Charles II Stakes.

The Roger Charlton-trained colt made a rather tame seasonal bow when well beaten into third behind Toronado in the Craven Stakes last month.

Dropped back to seven furlongs, he had to overcome front-runner Music Master but eventually ran out a convincing winner by a length and three-quarters.

The 15-8 triumph was Dundonnell's first since landing the Group Three Acomb Stakes last August and opens up options for Royal Ascot.

Winners of this Listed race often head next to the Jersey Stakes, which is run over seven furlongs. But the manner in which Charlton's charge asserted himself late on suggests he might step back up to a mile for the St James's Palace Stakes.

Winning jockey Martin Harley said: "On that [performance], you would think he would probably stay a mile. When I went about a length up, he really went about his business. He was the class horse in the race. He jumped as good as gold and travelled like a dream. It was perfect."