RACING: Kerrin McEvoy captured his second Group One in the space of four days when Punctilious landed yesterday's Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks at York.
Registering his 50th success of the season, McEvoy brought the 13 to 2 chance through to lead inside the final furlong, with the pair running on strongly to beat Dash To The Top and Kieren Fallon by half a length. French raider Lune d'Or came home two lengths back in third.
The shape of the race changed several times down the home straight as front-running Iota came back to the field. Vodafone Oaks winner Eswarah made up eyecatching ground down the outside but threw her chance away when hanging violently left towards the far rail.
Then it was Dash To The Top who took up the lead two furlongs out, next to the stands rail. But close home she was reeled in by Godolphin's charge, who easily improved on her fourth place in last year's renewal of the race.
McEvoy said: "She's just been coming to herself and in her last two runs she's been very game. She kept galloping and has done a great job. She was one of the top three-year-olds last year and we've got her back now.
"Last year she was a bit of a hard ride because she didn't enjoy the whip. But she's better now - more professional - and she's going great guns."
McEvoy was making another quick strike after partnering Dubawi to take the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.
But his time as the temporary number one rider for Godolphin may soon be coming to an end as Frankie Dettori has resumed riding work in Newmarket on his way back from his broken collar-bone.
Punctilious may be aimed at Longchqamp's Prix Vermeille next month.
Sergeant Cecil made the 550-mile round trip from Devon pay a handsome dividend as he completed a rare double when taking the £200,000 Totesport Ebor.
In doing so, the 11 to 1 chance became the first horse for almost a century to land this prestigious event having already taken the other big staying handicap in the North, the Northumberland Plate.
Pillo in 1911 was the last horse to win both prizes.
It was a remarkable feat, both for trainer Rod Millman - better known for his handling of early-maturing two-year-olds - and for jockey Alan Munro, enjoying his first season back in Britain after a lengthy hiatus in the Far East.
Once in the winner's enclosure Millman, who looks after a team of about 40 near Cullompton, was understandably keen to point out that he can "train any kind of horse" as this victory proved.
For Sergeant Cecil is an unquestionably quirky customer, but at the age of six he is improving with every race and is set to step into pattern-race company for his next start in the Doncaster Cup.
Amadeus Wolf had a stylish victory in the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes to give local trainer Kevin Ryan his first domestic Group-race success.
The Thirsk-based handler has a powerful team of youngsters and fresh from saddling Palace Episode to win the Listed Acomb Stakes on the opening day, he was on the mark once again in the juvenile division with Amadeus Wolf.
Kieren Fallon had been on Tuesday's winner with stable jockey Neil Callan serving a ban, but the latter was back in the plate this afternoon. He settled the well-backed 7 to 1 shot just off a hot pace set by Mutawajid and then Saville Road.
Two furlongs out Red Clubs, winner of the Coventry Stakes here at the Royal Meeting, went on but was nailed close home by Amadeus Wolf, who quickened clear to score by a length and a half.
