Sweet William successfully defended his Doncaster Cup crown when running out a facile winner of the Town Moor Group 2 under regular partner Rab Havlin.
Having finished behind the likes of Rebel's Romance, Trawlerman and current St Leger market leader Scandinavia this season, Sweet William was sent off the 10/11 market leader to get his head in front for the first time in 2025.
As so often is the case, Sweet William found himself on the back foot early on following a sluggish exit from the stalls. However, after quickly latching back on to the rest of the field, Sweet William was coaxed along by Rab Havlin to get on an even keel before moving his way through the pack to hunt down the unexposed three-year-old Pendragon.
Pendragon did his best to withstand the challenge, but having raced freely in the early stages, he was unable to do so, and Sweet William swept on past prior to lengthening away for a decisive three-and-three-quarter-length success. Willie Mullins' Hipop De Loire finished a well-held third.
"It's lovely to win the race," said John Gosden on ITV. "It's wonderful to win with him and I've already been instructed that that's it for this season, see you again next year. Same place.
"We'll build up to the Doncaster Cup next yar via the usual races. They're great these cup horses, people remember them. Stradivarius, Trawlerman and this horse, they're exciting for the crowds because a lot of our flat horses disappear too quickly."
Rab Havlin, who has remarkably ridden Sweet William in all of his 20 starts to date, added: "First of all, I'd like to thank Phillipa Cooper and the whole family for their underlying loyalty. Loyalty can be a dirty word in this game, but they've been unbelievably loyal to me.
"That's his 20th run, he's won six times and never been out of the frame and there's only ever been one jockey to ever ride him. It's unique in this day and age.
"There's no right or wrong way to ride him. He's a real character but he has a hell of a lot of ability. He quickened up and put the race to bed there. He's not one dimensional, he's very talented."
Revival powers to Flying Childers success for Easterby team
Tim Easterby looks to have another top-class sprinter on his hands after Revival Power posted a clear career best performance in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.
A winner on her debut at Thirsk in May, Revival Power went on to finish midfield in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot before finding Spicy Marg too strong in the Alice Keppel Fillies' Conditions Stakes at Goodwood in July.
The daughter of Bungle Inthejungle – who is out mare Titian Saga and a full-sister to connections' Nunthorpe Stakes winner Winter Power – returned to winning ways in Listed company at York.
Stepping up to Group 3 level under Oisin Murphy, who was replacing the banned David Alan, Tim Easterby's two-year-old jumped sharply from the gates before moving across to the near side rail. Those in behind were always close enough to mount a challenge if good enough, but Revival Power continued to pull out plenty on the front end and drew clear to score by a length and a half from the running-on Kansas.
Dickensian was back in third, while leading contenders Mission Central and Lady Iman both failed to land a blow.
"Tim Easterby did an amazing job with the full-sister Winter Power, who went on to be a Group 1 winner," said Murphy on ITV Racing.
"This filly has more size and scope. Today she was very fast, and she has a very bright future. She's a big two-year-old, lightly raced and today was her best performance yet."
Future plans remain fluid for the talented two-year-old, although trainer Tim Easterby was quick to put a line through her taking on her elders in the Prix de l'Abbaye.
He said: "She's a super filly. She's just improved massively. This was part of the plan, and we'll see what she's like when she gets home. I'm not keen on taking the old horses on."
Avicenna edges out Hankelow in Flying Scotsman thriller
Avicenna narrowly retained his unbeaten record when edging out Hankelow in the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster on Friday.
Trained by Roger Varian in the colours of Godolphin, Avicenna arrived back on the Town Moor having created a nice impression when making a winning debut here in August.
Stepped up to Listed level, the 450,000gns purchase looked to have work to do in order to reel in the well-backed Hankelow, who appeared to have the race in safekeeping after battling past the front-running Sir Albert in the final furlong. However, Roger Varian's juvenile really started to find his stride late on and finished with a reel flourish to join Hankelow on the line. It was a heads up, heads down job, but Avicenna had his nose down where it mattered and received the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
"He's a lovely horse and I'm very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and the Godolphin team for supporting me with a few horses this year," said Varian on ITV Racing.
"I'm delighted that this horse made a winning start, and he came and backed it up today, so really pleased, delighted with his performance. He's learning on the job and is strong through the line, so he's a horse to look forward to.
"He's always looked a nice horse because he's a very good moving horse, it's just taken a while to furnish into his frame."
