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Awzaan keeps Johnston bandwagon rolling.

Mark Johnston has had a great week, with Shakesperian landing a mammoth pot in the Goffs Milliom Mile at the Curragh, and Jukebox Jury being victorious in a Group 1 in Germany, so with his horses in such good form, it is suprising his Mill Reef Stakes winner Awzaan was not shorter than 4/1 for today's Shadwell Middle Park Stakes.

Frankie Dettori tried to dictate the pace in today's six furlong contest on Poet's Voice, but his rivals never let him get a soft lead, and by the two furlong from home pole, four of the five runners were in a line across the track, but it was Richard Hills on Awzaan who had the turn of foot, and despite drifting across a couple of his rivals in the final furlong, he was certainly on the deserved winner for the Johnston camp.

Radio Head came from the back with a late run to deny Showcasing second position, while at the rear Poet's Voice could only come home in front of the Tracy Collins trained Arctic.

After the race Mark Johnston indicated Awzaan would now be finished for the season, but several pundits were left scratching their heads as to whether today's winner would actually get the one mile trip of the 2,000 Guineas next May.

Special Duty too strong for her rivals.

Virtually leading from start to finish, the Criquette Head Maarek trained Special Duty took today's Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Jockey Stephane Pasquier paced his front running performance as instructed by his trainer, and when favourite Lady of the Desert came alongside at the two furlong pole, he must have known there was plenty left, for as the two fillies hit the rising ground, Special Duty lengthened and ran out a worthy winner. Clive Brittain's Misheer, who had challenged for the lead in the first furlong, ran on strongly over the final furlong, and took second place off Brian Meehan's weakening Lady of the Desert.

Today's win for Special Duty will almost certainly make her anti post favourite for the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, and it also boosts the form of Arcarno, who defeated the filly by a head in the Prix du Morny at Deauville.

Joel Stakes provides Confront with third consecutive win.

Under the Ryan Moore drive in this afternoon's Nayef Joel Stakes, the Sir Michael Stoute trained Confront picked up his third win in a row. Using his usual style of slugging it out from the front, Confront kept on gamely to deny the late challenges of Godolphin pair Rio de la Plata and Young pretender, the latter two having to settle for second and third positions in today's Group 3 contest.

After today's win, trainer Sir Michael Stoute suggested while Confront was 'on a roll', further races would be found for him during the remaining month of the flat season.

Tabassum scores in Newmarket opener.

Sir Michael Stoute's unbeaten filly Tabassum scored in good style in the first race on today's Newmarket card - the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes. Always in control, Richard Hills had the luxury of a sneaky look around as she bolted away from her rivals up the Newmarket hill. Electric Fell ran on best to obtain second place with Hasty back in third.

The bookmakers were obviously impressed with the performance, immediately cutting Tabassum into around 14/1 for the 2010 Newmarket 1,000 Guineas.

Fancied horses get middle draw for Sunday's Arc.

With the exception of Cavalryman who has been drawn on the outside in stall 19, the fancied horses for Sunday's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe occupy the middle stalls.

Race favourite Sea The Stars has stall 6, Aidan O'Brien's number one Fame and Glory is in stall 10, Prince of Wales's Stakes victor Vision D'Etat is in stall 9, and Sir Michael Stoute's Conduit has drawn stall 12.

Mick Channon's Youmzain, who has been runner up for the last two years, has been drawn in stall 1, but he has talented company with John Gosden's Dar re mi in stall 2, and German triple Group 1 winner Getaway in stall 3.

Supplemented three year old filly Stacelita joins Cavalryman on the outside, having been drawn in stall 16.

British sprinters dominate Prix de L'Abbaye field.

Eleven of the sixteen declared runners for Sunday's Group 1 five furlong Prix de L'Abbaye at Longchamp originate from British stables. Nunthorpe winner Borderlescot and runner up Benbaun are joined by Jeremy Noseda's Fleeting spirit, the latter suprisingly still seeking her first pattern win this season.

Richard Hannon is giving juvenile Monsieur Chevalier the opportunity to defeat his elders over his favourite trip, while War Artist will try to follow up on his recent Group 2 victory in Germany.

On the face of it, Equiano, Reverence, Total Gallery, Strike up the band and Sohrab are running for place money, but the David Nicholls trained Tax Free has been thereabouts all season, and he also boasts a pattern race victory in France this season at Chantilly, and he could be the dark horse in Sunday's contest.

Definite farewell run for Yeats.

Aidan O'Brien has confirmed today, when Yeats runs in Sunday's Prix du Cadran, it will represent the last opportunity for the racing public to see him in racing action. As an eight year old, Yeats has already spent far more time racing than any other horse of his pedigree, and it seems certain he will take up stud duties next spring, and with his achievements on the track so clear in everyone's memories, it is hard to imagine he will not be in great demand.

Major fillies tussle in prospect in Prix de L'Opera.

Henry Cecil has reportedly kept Midday off the track since her Nassau Stakes win specifically to save her for the run in this weekend's Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp. At the same time, Alain de royer-dupre has switched Deauville Group 1 winner Alpine Rose from the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe to take on Midday in the Prix de L'Opera.

As if these two top class fillies going head to head was not mouthwatering enough, amongst the remaining nine runners, the Dermot Weld trained Chinese White has been progressive all year, and deserves her place in the line up, and she is joined in the Irish challenge by Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Again.

Sir Michael Stoute's Crystal Capella has only had one run this season, but that involved defeating dual Group 1 winning Dar re mi at York, and despite her lack of exposure, she is going for her seventh successive win on the race track. Conversely, Godolphin's Lady Marian was disappointing on heavy ground on her last outing at the Curragh, but back on good ground she could be a very different prospect.

Ruby gives four timer exhibition at Sligo.

Ruby Walsh yesterday showed why he is rated alongside A P McCoy as a leading jockey of his generation, for in a feat of excellent horsemanship on an unfamiliar course, he landed a 154/1 four timer at the first national hunt meeting to be staged at Sligo in eleven years.

Walsh scored on Majestic Concorde, Bangonform, Chew It Over, and Thunder Run, and after racing he admitted he is feeling really geared up for the upcoming season, and his prime objectives will be to complete three timers on Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Masterminded in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Tote offering access to Paris Mutual Pools.

For the first time, Totesport are offering punters in Britain and Ireland the opportunity to bet directly on the individual and pool bets offered by the Paris Mutual betting service at this weekend's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe two day Longchamp Meeting.

For full details punters are advised to use this Open A Horse Racing Betting Account, link and then choose the Totesport option.

Spin Cycle one to watch next year.

Following his last gasp win in yesterday's Listed Golden Bonus Rous Stakes at Newmarket, jockey Richard Mullen confirmed Brian Smart's Spin Cycle will return to action as a four year old. Mullen went on to say,

"He has been in some big races this season, but it is always difficult for three year olds to compete in the highest level sprints against the older horses. Today he got every thing he needs, a fast pace and good fast ground. It is also later in the year, and he has had the time to grow and fill out his frame. I would expect him to improve again as a four year old, and I would not be suprised if he became a Group winner next year."

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