Rewilding favoured for St Leger

Third in the Derby behind Workforce, Rewilding, trained at Newmarket for Godolphin by Mahmood Al Zarooni, will now seek to become the 14th three-year-old to follow up victory in the Group Two Voltigeur by winning the final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster next month. He is already 6-4 market leader for Town Moor.

On yesterday's form he will take all the beating, Dettori never looking flustered as the Yorkshire-owned Harris Tweed took the field along at a swinging gallop before easing his mount into the lead and finishing with plenty in hand over the Aidan O'Brien pair Midas Touch and Joshua Tree.

His winning margin was four lengths; it might as well have been a furlong, so effortlessly did Rewilding complete his task.

The Festival had started superbly for followers of Yorkshire-trained horses when Tim Easterby sent out Hamish McGonagall to win the opening Symphony Group Stakes over an extended five furlongs at a generous 9-1.

Already winner over course and distance on Knavesmire, Hamish McGonagall was well positioned on the pace by stable jockey David Allan as they exploded from the gates. Cruising into the lead as the pack reached the final furlong, the pair comfortably held off challenges from Judge 'n' Jury and the favourite Quest For Success.

Richmond-based Alan Swinbank almost followed up in style when his recent Haydock winner Silvertrees (8-1) had every chance in the Group Three Sportingbet.com Acomb Stakes but could not repel a determined drive up the stand rail by Kieren Fallon on Waiter's Dream (5-2) with O'Brien's 2-1 favourite Lake Ontario a disappointing fourth.

But fortune changed Yorkshire's way again in the Sportingbet.com Stakes when Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan's Puddle Duck, Jamie Spencer in the saddle, triumphed at 6-1 with Azzurra du Caprio, trained at Middleham by Ben Haslam and ridden by Kelly Harrison, second at 33-1.