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Fantasia runs away with the Sceptre.

As Luca Cumani had informed the racing press before today's Listed Sceptre Stakes on Town Moor,

"Fantasia is in great form after her break, and I expect her to win this afternoon."

Well he told us, and Fantasia duly obliged, showing the same burst of speed in the final furlong she exhibited in her first run of the season at Newmarket.

Shamwari Lodge continued her progression with a very compitant performance to grab second place, while Say No Now obtained some more black type for finishing third in this Listed seven furlong fillies contest.

Suprise one two in Park Hill Stakes.

For most of today's Group 2 Park Hill Stakes Michael Kinane was happy to sit right at the back on the short priced favourite Tanoura, but in the final two furlongs he found himself with too much to do as outsiders The Miniver Rose and Starfala used their personal battle up front to keep distance between themselves and the fast finishing favourite. As the line approached, Starfala (33/1) made one last desperate attempt to head Richard Hannon's The Miniver Rose (28/1), but the latter, who finished fifth in the Epsom Oaks in June, held on to win the biggest prize of her career so far, while favourite backers were left scratching their heads as to why Michael Kinane had not brought Tanoura into the race earlier in the home straight.

Green - but Co-ordinated Cut lands the wagers.

It would be hard to say this week's big Derby gamble Co-ordinated Cut was over impressive on his racecourse debut in today's one mile juvenile contest which opened proceedings on the second day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster, but the fact is, despite showing greenness, he won!

Peter Chapple Hyam's charge had been well supported into 10/11 favourite for today's race, and although he ran about in the final furlong, when asked the question by partner Kieran Fallon at the two furlong marker, he did quickened to take the lead, and as he passed the winning line, he did have Tactition, a son of Derby winner Motivator over a length behind him.

The best that can be said about today's performance is that he will certainly improve for the run, and he did win, which is all that can be asked at this stage.

Age of Aquarius shock.

After failing to impress in an early morning cantor today, Age of Aquarius has been withdrawn from Saturday's St Leger at today's 48 hour decleration stage. Ballydoyle number one jockey Johnnie Murtagh will now transfer his attention to obtaining the best possible result in Saturday's mile and three quarter Classic with Ebor Handicap runner up Changingoftheguard.

However, the withdrawal is a major shock to the many anti post punters who had heavily supported Age of Aquarius into favouritism earlier in the week, particularly as the vibes for Age of Aquarius had been positive on Monday and Tuesday, while Godolphin had played down Kite Wood's chances of winning Saturday's Group 1.

It will now be interesting to see how the new anti post market emerges as the day goes on. For the latest details, click here to visit our Anti Post Market Moves page.

Yeats will undertake Irish Field St Leger swan song.

Aidan O'Brien is satisfied the ground at the Curragh for Saturday's Irish Field St Leger will not be too taxing, and therefore, he has decided to allow Yeats to take his Irish swan song in front of an adoring crowd at the Curragh.

Yeats will be amongst eight entries for the race, and it would appear his most potent rival will be Goodwood Cup winner Schiaparelli, who will be trying to spoil the Yeats celebration party on behalf of the Godolphin organisation.

Seven remain for the Champagne.

The unbeaten Silver Grecian will have to face six rivals in the DFS sponsered Champagne Stakes on St Leger day. Despite having to carry a penalty for winning the Superlative Stakes, on paper he should still have the beating of Roi de Vitesse and Emperor Claudius based on their finishing positions behind Silver Grecian in the Superlative Stakes.

Emperor Claudius is one of three entries from the Ballydoyle stable, and is joined by Await The Dawn, and the very well regarded Viscount Nelson, the latter expected to be the mount of Johnnie Murtagh.

Godolphin have decided to run Acomb Stakes third Poet's Voice in this race at Town Moor rather than take up an entry in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh, and the field is made up by Mark Johnston's course and distance winner Layali al Andalus.

Stacelita and Dar re mi to clash at Longchamp.

Prix Diane winner Stacelita seems likely to meet dual Group 1 winner Dar re mi in Sunday's Prix Vermeille at Longchamp. The two fillies are amongst a field of fourteen declared for the Group 1 contest, and if either are victorious, they will be able to lay claim to the title of top middle distance filly for the current european flat season.

Vision D'Etat puts Arc credentials on the line.

Impressive Royal Ascot winner Vision D'Etat will face only five rivals in Sunday's Prix Foy on Arc Trial weekend at Longchamp, with his main opposition likely to come from Sir Michael Stoute's Grand Prix de St Cloud winner Spanish Moon, and the Andre Fabre trained Deauville winner Cross Harbour.

If Vision D'Etat can put in a very good performance, he could well become one of the market leaders in the betting for the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe.

Arabian Gleam seeking treble in Park Stakes.

Jeremy Noseda has two very interesting runners in the remaining six horses declared for Saturday's Park Stakes at Doncaster. Arabian Gleam is a course and distance specialist, and on Saturday, he will be seeking his third consecutive win in the Group 2 contest, while stable companion Himalya was a well regarded two year old, but will be returning to the track at Doncaster after an injury break of 452 days.

Stimulation is also making a belated seasonal debut, while the Barry Hills trained Jersey Stakes winner Ouqba and Irish raider Duff are trying to regain the good form they both exhibited in the early part of the current flat season.

Markab now burdened with top weight in Portland.

With today's 48 hour decleration stage withdrawal of Tamagin and Exceptional Art, Portland Handicap anti post favourite Markab now has to carry top weight of 9 stones 10 pounds in Saturday's ultra competitive twenty two runner five furlong contest.

Clowance sidesteps Park Hill.

As expected, Roger Charlton has this morning confirmed his four year old filly Clowance, last seen on a race track when finishing fourth behind Look Here in the 2008 Epsom Oaks, will by-pass today's Doncaster Park Hill Stakes in favour of a run in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh this coming Saturday.

The Wiltshire handler indicated earlier in the week his filly needed cut to be at her best, and with another dry night in Yorkshire, the Town Moor track is likely to be even faster than yesterday's good to firm conditions.

Conversely, even with drying conditions now prevailing in Ireland, the going for the Irish Field St Leger is expected to show plenty of cut, and Charlton is hopeful this will be ideal for Clowance when she makes her long awaited return to racing.

Tipperary given the green light.

Today's meeting at Tipperary has passed an early morning inspection, and will now stage an extended eight race card which includes the EBF Fairy Bridge Stakes carried forward from yesterday's cancelled Tipperary meeting.

Queally picks up unexpected Shemima ride.

Christophe Soumillon is certainly 'in the wars' at present. Barely ten days since losing his retainer with the Aga Khan, yesterday the French jockey suffered an open fracture to his elbow in a fall while racing at Nancy. After undergoing reconstructive surgery at Nancy hospital, Soumillon now faces several weeks on the sidelines, and will certainly miss the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp, and thus loses any last chance to have some high profile winners for the Aga Khan.

In the short term, Soumillon's absence means Tom Queally comes in for the unexpected opportunity to accompany Shemima in today's Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

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Queally could only manage fourth position as Shemima found the ground a little quick for her racing action.

Listowel more hopeful ahead of today's inspection.

The Listowel executive have confirmed they are more hopeful their seven day Festival of Racing may be able to commence on Sunday as originally scheduled. Earlier in the week, sections of the course were waterlogged, but with better weather forecast over the next few days, it is hoped today's inspection will provide better news, and may be a pre-cursor to a further inspection on Saturday.

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Although still exhibiting heavy ground, Listowel passed this afternoon's inspection, and racing can go ahead on Sunday as scheduled.

Peslier to ride Schiaparelli for Godolphin.

With Frankie Dettori riding at Doncaster on Saturday, Godolphin have today announced French jockey Olivier Peslier has been booked to ride Schiaparelli in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh on Saturday afternoon.

Horner allowed home.

Lucy Horner, who suffered a dislocated shoulder and facial injuries during a five horse pile-up at the first obstacle of a Juvenile Hurdle at Sedgefield earlier in the week, has been released by the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough, and has now gone home to begin her convalescence.

Ialysos in good form ahead of Diodem.

Luca Cumani's Greek import Ialysos has disappointed since his initial first run and victory at Haydock Park, but news coming out of the Newmarket yard suggests the sprinter seems revitalised on his home gallops, and connections are apparently very confident of a return to form when he competes in the Diodem Stakes later this month.

Vaughn will attempt to relaunch his career.

Having been discarded by Michael Owen from the Malpas Manor House stables in favour of Tom Dascomb, Nicky Vaughn is to take over David Flood's former Shropshire yard, and the trainer is very hopeful his new facility will provide the launch pad for him to re-invigorate his training career. Discussing his situation, Vaughn said,

"I have several owners interested in my new facilities, and I still have total belief in my training abilities, so I am adopting a positive attitude to what I can achieve in the future."

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