Acclamation for Dettori

Frankie Dettori, fresh from valuable Group One victories on Fantastic Light and Slickly in the past few days, was on the mark again as he collected the £200,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes on Acclamation at Doncaster yesterday.

The Italian took up the running over a furlong out in the lucrative race restricted to two-year-olds bought at the Doncaster sales 12 months previously and his mount strode home two and a half lengths clear of Old Blue Eyes.

His only anxious moment came with the calling of an inquiry into possible interference with third-placed Captain Rio and it did not take long for the stewards to announce that the result stood.

Winning trainer Gerald Cottrell has had a much longer wait since his latest big-race win, having enjoyed his best days with the sprinters Ever Sharp, Governor General, Roman Prose and Young Inca in the 1980s.

Ed Dunlop also had to watch on television as his Ranin took the Group Three Rothmans Royals Park Hill Stakes by a smooth two lengths from John Oxx's Masilia, who did not have much luck in running.

Dunlop is in Keeneland for the sales and is unable to return due to the grounding of all flights.

Dunlop and jockey Willie Supple completed a 59 to 1 double when Wahchi took the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Maiden.

After Fly Gold Air had won the nursery, it was discovered that the race had been run over six furlongs when its official distance was six and a half furlongs.

Staying will be the name of the game in today's GNER Doncaster Cup and Double Honour can prove he has the stamina to win the race.

Mark Johnston's young stayer made a promising start when tackling a trip of two miles for the first time when fifth behind stablemate And Beyond in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. He set sail for home after entering the straight but could not quite match the pace of the principals in the closing stages, although he was beaten only a length.

He went down in a fighting finish to Persian Punch in the Goodwood Cup, with George Duffield sending him to the front with four furlongs to run, only to be outbattled by David Elsworth's veteran.

Today's contest is over an extra two furlongs and should suit him down to the ground as the three-year-old embarks on what could prove to be a profitable career in Cup races.

Johnston also saddles five-year-old Royal Rebel who beat Persian Punch by a head in the 12-runner Gold Cup at Royal Ascot but has since disappointed in the Goodwood Cup and in the Lonsdale Stakes at York's Ebor meeting.

At Goodwood, Nayef continued his return to peak form in emphatic style as he trounced his two rivals in the Select Stakes.

His season has hardly hit the heights that were expected but he may yet still have the chance to prove himself at the highest level.

Having made the early running under Richard Hills, Nayef was joined and briefly passed by Askham at the entrance to the home straight.

But the 8 to 13 favourite was chased along to go back into the lead and drew clear in the final stages, galloping away to score by six lengths from Askham.

Nayef is set to have another race this season, in either the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket or the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.