Oxx’s 2011 record steady as a Rock

By his own admission, Oxx will never have another horse to compare to the immortal Sea The Stars whose six wins included York’s Juddmonte International. But Yorkshire remains a happy hunting ground for the ever popular Irish trainer.

In the wake of Alanza continuing her rapid progression at Doncaster on Thursday, it was a surprise punters allowed Saddler’s Rock- from the last crop of possibly the greatest sire of all time, Sadler’s Wells – to go off at 11-2 in the gruelling feature, the latest leg of the Qipco Champions Series that also incorporates today’s Ladbrokes St Leger.

Backers were possibly slightly put off by the unheralded Niall McCullagh doing the steering rather than Johnny Murtagh, Alanza’s winning jockey, but students of the Irish scene will know the pilot is a more than capable deputy.

So it proved. While Saddler’s Rock was first off the bridle, and Frankie Dettori apparently sat with a double handful on the favourite Opinion Poll, McCullagh had not asked for everything.

When he did, the response was immediate and he shot clear of Goodwood and Lonsdale Cup winner Opinion Poll to score by four lengths.

“He’s a very economical little horse and he only does what he has to,” said McCullagh.

“When I gave him a squeeze three out he took off but I didn`t want to get there too early.

“He finished his race off well and he’ll be a nice Cup horse next year.”

Jimmy O’Neill, Oxx’s assistant, added: “He’s very relaxed, he just goes through the motions at home.

“He’s from the last crop of Sadler’s Wells, we’ve had a few but he’s the best.

“He’ll make a cracking Cup horse for next year and we might put him away now.”

The winner was introduced at 14-1 in the betting for the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup that was won this year by Fame and Glory, who reappears in today’s Irish St Leger.

There was some consolation for Dettori thanks to Lyric Of Light entering the 1000 Guineas picture with a gutsy display in the Barrett Steel May Hill Stakes.

Winner of a Newmarket maiden on her only previous start, the 9-1 chance fought out the finish with the William Buick-ridden 2-1 favourite Fallen For You, who arrived at Doncaster with similar credentials.

The pair bumped each other close to home, but Dettori’s mount prevailed by a head, adding to Godolphin’s already strong hand with juvenile fillies.

Albany winner Samitar gives the form plenty of strength as she was over three lengths away in third with Group winner Regal Realm further behind.

While Buick will hope to avenge this defeat in today’s St Leger when he clashes again with his great mentor Dettori, both Lyric Of Light and Fallen For You are quoted at 12-1 for next year’s Classic by William Hill.

“Mahmood (Al Zarooni) has always liked her but this was a big jump up from a maiden,” said Dettori after he treated punters to his flying dismount.

“She was still green and when she hit the front she pricked her ears.”

Al Zarooni added: “We’ve been lucky with Street Cry fillies and Frankie says she is nice but green. We’ll probably take her to France for the Group One over there now (Prix Marcel Boussac).”

Trainer John Gosden was happy with the runner-up, saying: “I’m thrilled.

“She’s a lovely filly and had only won a maiden. I think we’ll go for the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket now. I don’t train juveniles to reach their potential at two.”

Elsewhere, David Wachman’s Requinto – a very disappointing 15th in last month’s Nunthorpe – bounced back to winning ways in the Polypipe Flying Childers.

The Dansili colt showed a smart turn of foot a furlong from home to take a length out of the field, with Wayne Lordan’s mount holding on by a short head.

“Five furlongs is his trip and fast ground is the key to him. At York he travelled for two-and-a-half furlongs then couldn’t pick up on that ground,” said Lordan.

Group One success could now be within the sprinter’s scope. Paul Smith, representing the winning owners, Coolmore Stud, said: “He might go for something like the Middle Park or the Prix de l’Abbaye next, but he’s very ground dependent.”

n Ruby Walsh makes his eagerly-anticipated return to action at Listowel tomorrow where his sole ride is Tony Martin’s Salute Him in the Kerrymaid Hurdle.

The eight-times Irish champion jockey has been on the sidelines since suffering a crushed vertebra in a fall at Killarney in July.