It's lucky 13 for Yorkshire warrior

Yet the six-times champion jockey, a stand-in for Borderlescott's suspended rider Neil Callan, was typically reluctant to accept the plaudits after the eight-year-old horse became the oldest winner ever of the Audi King George Stakes.

"He made it easy for me," said a modest Fallon as his charge returned to a hero's reception from punters who backed Wetherby trainer Robin Bastiman's talisman into 9-2 favouritism. "You wouldn't think he's had a race, would you?"

Racing down the centre of the undulating track, Fallon and Borderlescott appeared to be boxed in as the five-furlong sprinters accelerated towards the line.

However, Fallon bided his time and, when the gaps appeared, the two-time Yorkshire horse of the year picked up and recorded his 13th career victory while also taking his career prize money past the 700,000 mark.

The finish was marred by the saddle slipping on Triple Aspect, with Liam Jones parting company from his charge, but nothing was going to deny Borderlescott, who now prepares for his primary target – the Nunthorpe Stakes at York's Ebor meeting next month.

The winner of the last two renewals of the race, Borderlescott will be, potentially, the most popular winner on the Knavesmire since Sea Pigeon won the Ebor in 1979 if he can record a famous hat-trick.

The bay gelding has every chance. For, as Fallon observed yesterday, the reason Bordlerlescott is so successful is because he is so laid back for a sprinter.

It may sound like a contradiction in terms for a horse that has become an equine warrior of the turf, but the rider says it means the horse does not waste unnecessary energy travelling to the start.

"He doesn't use any gas at all, he's totally switched off," explained an instructive Fallon after riding Borderlescott for the first time.

"Most sprinters use most of their energy even before the race. As soon as he gets into the gate, he knows he's into a race and he lightens up.

"A few different jockeys have ridden him and I was delighted to get the ride."

Bastiman, the beaming trainer who has presided over this remarkable rags-to-riches story, was delighted as his horse returned to the winner's enclosure after his fifth successive run at Glorious Goodwood – a run that stretches back to his Stewards Cup win at the corresponding meeting in 2006.

"He's just an unbelievable horse. He's eight now and you wonder when he's going to lose that dash," said Bastiman. "We know he's been coming to hand – he comes right this time of year and he's just getting better and better.

"He's just getting a bit older and taking a bit longer to wind up, but once he gets wound up he goes. Kieren gave him a couple of smacks and he got into overdrive. Bring on the Nunthorpe now. "I think he's better now than ever."

Even though the Sussex faithful had a 'home' winner when the locally-trained Illustrious Blue won the Goodwood Cup, the highlight of the week, this was always going to be Borderlescott's day.

Mark Johnston finally got off the mark for the meeting when Eastern Aria (16-1) ran out a comfortable winner of the Moet Hennessy Fillies' Stakes, the horse recording back-to-back wins at Glorious Goodwood.

ROYAL Ascot hero Marine Commando puts his unbeaten record on the line in today's Richmond Stakes.

The two-year-old, who swooped late to win the Windsor Castle Stakes, steps up in trip to six furlongs, and Malton trainer Richard Fahey is expecting another bold showing from the horse who is named in honour of those Royal Marines fighting in Afghanistan.

"He's got to step up again but he's in good form so we'll see what happens," said Fahey.

FERDY Murphy's stable jockey Graham Lee recorded one of the biggest careers of his career when Overturn, the Northumberland Plate winner, won the Galway Hurdle yesterday.

Lee was replacing the injured Jason Maguire on the Donald McCain-trained horse who is 12-1 for next month's Ebor and 25-1 for the Champion Hurdle. Lee said: "It's a dream come true, there is no other way to put it."