MIDDLEHAM maestro Mark Johnston continued his love affair with Royal Ascot yesterday when he landed a superb double.

Johnston has enjoyed a number of successes at the Royal meeting over recent years and yesterday Attraction and Pearl Of Love obliged.

And, after his first winner, Johnston admitted second place would not have been good enough for Attraction, who pulverised her rivals to maintain her unbeaten record in the Queen Mary Stakes and initiate a juvenile double for the stable.

The strongly-supported 13-8 favourite, one of the bankers of the meeting for many punters, needed to be ridden to the line by Kevin Darley to beat off the persistent Catstar.

But she responded gamely to get the better of that rival by three lengths, with a further five lengths back to third-placed Majestic Desert.

''In most races I am happy to finish second or third, but nothing but winning would have been good enough for me here,'' said Johnston.

''She's a really good filly and has always been that little bit special.

''She's got a big engine and she's very laid back - it's all so effortless to her. She's not an extravagant mover, but she's faster than the rest."

Attraction, owned by the Duke of Roxburghe, was the subject of an injury scare only days ago when she cut her knee, but recovered in time to race.

In the last race of the day, the Listed Chesham Stakes, favourite Pearl Of Love obliged for the North Yorkshire handler.

''From the start this was my one for the meeting,'' said Johnston.

''We'll take a long-term view and he'll probably only have a couple more races this season."