Stout's Quiff shines

Not even the mighty Shergar could secure Michael Stoute a St Leger triumph, but Quiff might just be the one to fill in the champion trainer's classic blank after a wide-margin victory in yesterday's Yorkshire Oaks.

Even the defection of Ouija Board just over an hour beforehand due to the effect of overnight rain on the ground couldn't deflect from the impression the winner made as she strode 10 lengths clear of Pongee, with John Oxx's Hazarista best of the Irish in third.

Kieren Fallon, Ouija Board's usual rider, was claimed for the winner and he had no problems from early in the straight as the favourite, Punctilious, faded from the front.

"She needed rain and she got it. She does like a bit of cut, but I've ridden some good fillies in this race and this is another," said the Irishman, who could be reunited with Ouija Board in the Prix Vermeille next month.

"The jockeys came back after the first and said it was heavy ground. Running her on that was a risk we didn't need to take," said Ed Dunlop.

However, before that Fallon's classic eye could be trained in on the Leger, which is the one English classic the champion jockey has yet to win. The same comment applies to Stoute, but his pursuit of the world's oldest classic has been a lot longer.

It's 23 years since Shergar ran his last race when only fourth at Doncaster, and since then the likes of Saddlers Hall and Air Marshall have finished runner-up.

"I will have to talk to connections, but she is in the St Leger and I would be tempted to go that route," said the Newmarket trainer with an intent that indicated any alternative arrangements better be well-argued.

The ground also affected the meeting's biggest handicap, the Ebor, which eventually went to the second favourite Mephisto after a bitter slog up the long straight.

The Irish hope, Mikado, was also third in this, running on well after looking to be well beaten early in the stretch, but ultimately the finish came down to Mephisto and Gold Ring.

A tired Mephisto drifted to his left in the final 100 yards, despite Darryll Holland's efforts, and made contact with the runner-up, but a prolonged stewards inquiry left the placings unaltered.

"His determination got him there today because that is not his ground," said trainer Luca Cumani, who also won the Ebor with Vicious Circle in 1999.

Holland was a relieved man and reported: "It was a fantastic performance but I did think we'd finished second. He was getting very tired because the ground was so bad. Fair play to Luca, he's prepared him so well this season and for this big race."

The bookies got a break in the Gimcrack Stakes as the 16 to 1 Tony James was a length and a quarter too good for Andronikos under a determined Seb Sanders.