Stevens hits treble form

If the fashion for outgoing employees is to take things easy as they jog their lap of honour, the tradition hasn't reached the United States, or at least the bit of Idaho that Gary Stevens hails from.

Stevens began York's Ebor meeting and his final week as a British-based jockey with a treble, and his undisputed highlight was Royal Anthem's emphatic vindication of his sponsors in the Group 1 Juddmonte International.

The threesome, reached at odds of 30 to 1, was flanked by wins for Michael Stoute on King's Best in the Acomb Stakes and Fantastic Light in the Great Voltigeur. After defeats by Daylami in a slowly-run Coronation Cup at Epsom and Fruits of Love in Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, confidence in Royal Anthem was on the wane.

But as Stevens eased Henry Cecil's bay to the front over three furlongs out, the doubters suddenly fell silent. Royal Anthem pulled eight lengths clear of Greek Dance, partnered by Kieren Fallon, leaving Stevens, who had ridden the son of Theatrical in defeat at last year's Breeders' Cup, in no doubt as to the value of his achievement.

"It was just an awesome performance," he said. "I can't remember ever winning a Group 1 race anywhere in the world with that kind of ease."

Royal Anthem will never be asked to tackle a mile and a half again, according to Cecil. "He is in the Irish Champion and the English Champion - he is not going more than a mile and a quarter," he said.

Stevens begins his new job for Royal Anthem's owners, the Thoroughbred Corporation, back in California, after returning to the United States a week on Thursday, his last rides in Britain taking place at Sandown on Saturday.

"I have said all along, since I agreed to take the job, that I have mixed emotions," he continued. "I have enjoyed racing here more than I can put into words.

"This racing can't be matched anywhere in the world, but it is Catch 22 - in order to ride at the different meetings every day and enjoy the racing you have got to do a lot of driving and a lot of travelling and I can do without that.

"I have got a jazz back about me and about my spirit that I haven't had for 15 years."

After King's Best had come close to the juvenile course record in the Listed Breckenbrough Racing Acomb Stakes, Joe Mercer, racing manager to the colt's owner, Saeed Suhail, nominated the Racing Post Trophy or Dewhurst Stakes as possible targets for the bay, as low as 10-1 for next year's 2000 Guineas.

Fantastic Light completed the double for Stoute by defeating Bienamado in the Group 2 Casinos Great Voltigeur Stakes. Oldstager Celeric recaptured the sparkle that appeared to have deserted him as he returned to one of his favourite racecourses.

The seven-year-old had already won five times at York and added to his laurels at the Knavesmire as he seized victory in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Stakes. Expertly threaded through the field by Pat Eddery, Celeric struck the front inside the final furlong and went on to defeat the favourite Arctic Owl by one length. The stewards inquired into interference between the winner and Maridpour before allowing the result to stand.

Dee Pee Tee Cee registered his fifth victory from his last six outings as he landed the Knavesmire Handicap. In a driving finish he managed to keep the favourite Architect at bay by half a length.