RACING/York report: Islington put all her early-season problems behind her to repeat last season's victory in the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks in tenacious style at York yesterday.

The one-length success from Ocean Silk put Michael Stoute's filly on target for an autumn campaign that could include the Dubai Champion Stakes or the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before a tilt at the Japan Cup.

The early pace of the 12-furlong event was cut out at a good clip by Irish Oaks runner-up L'Ancresse, with Kieren Fallon happy to sit back in fifth on the 8 to 11 favourite.

Fallon asked the question around the two-furlong marker and Islington responded positively to sweep into the lead - a little too soon for the trainer's comfort.

Although Jimmy Fortune brought Ocean Silk to launch a challenge, there was enough in the tank to allay Stoute's fears.

"She's tough and there are some interesting autumn races for her. I'm keen to finish in the Japan Cup. In the interim there's the Arc or the Champion Stakes," said Stoute.

Coral quote Islington a 16 to 1 chance for the Longchamp race on October 5th.

Fallon said: "She was travelling sweet throughout. Obviously I got to the front a bit sooner than I wanted and she was just idling in front, but when Jimmy come to me she picked up again."

Islington's success completed a double for Stoute and Fallon, who landed the opener with 6 to 4 favourite Akshar.

The winner was always handy through the first mile of the 10-furlong event as Greta D'Argent and Persian Lightning led the way.

However, matters changed in the last quarter-mile as Fallon got vigorous with his mount, who responded in positive fashion to forge ahead and win by three-quarters of a length from the fast-finishing Howle Hill.

Saint Alebe produced a powerful run to record a dramatic last-to-first success in the £190,000 Tote Ebor.

The late-maturing four-year-old, trained by David Elsworth at Whitsbury, was away from home overnight for the first time but took it all in his stride to record a handsome victory at 20 to 1 in Europe's richest handicap.

Saint Alebe's task had been made considerably harder after he slipped coming out of the stalls, leaving him stuck in the rear group. He was still disputing last place turning for home.

But Richard Quinn gradually picked off his rivals throughout the final four furlongs and, challenging on the outside, led 50 yards from the finish to beat Sun Bird (25 to 1) by half a length.

Salsalino, the 4 to 1 favourite, who came from an equally unpromising position at the back of the pack, stayed on to finish third, with Unleash (25 to 1) home for each-way backers in fourth.

Saint Alebe was bought by Elsworth as a two-year-old, but proved too backward to make it to the racecourse until the last year.

Since then he has steadily improved under the education of his part-owner Jeannie Brown, the former trainer who handed in her licence three years ago in order to take a position as assistant at Elsworth's yard.

Saint Alebe is owned jointly by Elsworth, Brown and two Yorkshiremen, Ray Standly and Paul Clifton, so the victory still had a local theme, despite the horse being trained in the West Country.

Quinn was hit with a two-day suspension when the stewards found him guilty of breaching the whip guidelines.

He will be out of action on August 29th and 30th after he was found to have used his whip with excessive frequency and without giving his mount time to respond.

Balmont put up a brave effort to give trainer Jeremy Noseda an all-the-way success in the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.

Bursting out of stall nine, Pat Eddery's mount was soon dictating the pace and battled on strongly inside the final furlong to score from Fokine and Byron, who was later demoted to fourth in the stewards' room.

Byron is the only horse to have beaten Balmont in his four starts, but the son of Stravinsky decisively turned the tables yesterday. The Middle Park is the colt's next likely target.

Balmont's owner, Sanford R Robertson, a banker from San Francisco, was listening on the phone from America and would no doubt been interested in the 25 to 1 offered by Coral, Paddy Power and Chandler for next year's 2,000 Guineas at Nemarket.

Byron interfered with Grand Reward, which led to a three-day ban (August 28th, 29th and September 1st) for Frankie Dettori, who was found guilty of careless riding. Dettori received some compensation in the following Costcutter Roses Stakes by booting home Howick Falls.