Starboard sails home

Starboard will be given the chance to test his powers at a higher level after landing a competitive conditions stakes at Doncaster

The Khalid Abdullah-owned three-year-old impressed on his second appearance as a juvenile at Redcar, but was readily outpaced by Fort Bastion on his seasonal return at Newmarket.

Sensibly stepped up to 10 furlongs for the first time on Town Moor, the 6-4 chance faced just three opponents, but each posed some sort of threat.

Market leader Expense Claim predictably cut out the early running, but the John Gosden-trained Starboard battled by him in the straight.

Kingsdesire finished off his race strongly, but Starboard and William Buick had three-quarters of a length in hand at the line.

Abdullah's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said: "I thought that was a good, solid performance considering the ground was probably against him.

"They didn't go much of a pace but once he found his stride he got on top and I think he won with a shade in hand.

"Hopefully he is still on an upward curve and is still progressive.

"He is in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, but I think we'll stick to a mile and a quarter for the time being."

Victory in the feature event was the highlight of a treble for Buick, who also recorded a three-timer on Friday's card at Doncaster.

Sir Maximilian may have earned himself a long-term future with trainer Ed Dunlop after running away with the Brenda Armstrong 75th Birthday Maiden Stakes under Buick.

The 11-10 favourite had filled the runner-up spot on two of his first three starts, but made no mistake on this occasion, quickening right away from his rivals to score by six lengths.

Dunlop said: "He had been the bridesmaid a couple of times so it is nice to see him go and win - I thought he was quite impressive.

"He was the highest-rated horse in the race so he was entitled to do that.

"He is entered in the July sales, but we'll be doing all we can to have him withdrawn from those now."

Buick registered his third winner of the day as Gosden's 5-1 shot Camborne annihilated his rivals in the KAT Communications Knowledge About Telecoms Handicap.

There was an exciting climax to the freebets.co.uk Free Bets Handicap, with 7-2 favourite Tariq Too winning a protracted dual with Scarf.

The latter got first run on his opponent, but Tariq Too responded gamely for Harry Bentley and won the argument by a head for trainer Amy Weaver, who is overseeing runners in America this weekend.

Bentley said: "I was confident beforehand and I just wanted to keep him behind horses to keep him out of the head-wind.

"I thought I'd pick up the other horse (Scarf) easier than I did, but he was very game - just like my horse."

Chapter Seven overcame plenty of trouble in running to claim the freebets.co.uk Handicap.

The Richard Fahey-trained 10-1 chance firstly got stuck behind weakening favourite Grey Mirage and then found further trouble once switched wide.

But once the gap did come, Robert Winston's mount showed smart acceleration to beat Well Painted by three-quarters of a length.

Winston said: "It got very tight but I was confident that if the gap came, he'd be good enough to quicken up and win."

Jimmy Fortune was given a four-day suspension (June 24-27) for careless riding on the unplaced Shamaal Nibras.

Pat Dobbs was given two days (June 24-25) on the third-placed Mister Music.

Go Angellica (22-1) lunged late to deny Rio's Pearl an all-the-way win in the EBF crownhotel-bawtry.com Maiden Fillies' Stakes.