Cup joy for David Elsworth with Desert Skyline at Doncaster

David Elsworth has another potentially long-serving stayer on his hands after Desert Skyline won the Doncaster Cup on Town Moor.

It is 14 years since the popular Persian Punch took this historic race and the 77-year-old trainer is looking forward to more big days with Desert Skyline, despite ruing the fact he could not run him in the St Leger as he is a gelding.

Fortunately, all the major cup races are open to geldings and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot is a likely objective in 2018, and hopefully beyond, after the 2-1 favourite defeated solid yardsticks Thomas Hobson and Sheikhzayedroad in coming from last to first under Silvestre de Sousa.

“I was pleased with him, of course, as he’s only a three-year-old. He had a weight-for-age concession, but it’s tough out there,” said Elsworth.

“It’s not like driving a car around the M25 and you just pull him out and go! It looked like that, but they’ve got to dig deep and work hard. He’s young and immature.

“He’s run consistently well at a high level and you’ll hear more of him next year.”

Clive Cox is thinking of stepping Heartache (6-4) up to six furlongs for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket after she smacked of class to win the Wainwrights Flying Childers Stakes.

The Ryan Moore-ridden filly came out on top by half a length in a battle royal with Havana Grey to take the Group Two spoils and add to her Queen Mary success at Royal Ascot.

“The way she’s developed and grown, she’s an awfully nice filly for next year,” said Cox, who also won the maiden with the Adam Kirby-ridden Blue Laureate (16-1).

Kirby was doubling up after taking the Listed Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange Flying Scotsman Stakes on Tip Two Win (11-2) as trainer Roger Teal struck a blow for the smaller yards.

Moore had earlier triumphed for Aidan O’Brien with Music Box (8-1) in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes, while he completed a treble aboard Pivoine (9-4 favourite) for Sir Michael Stoute in the Coopers Marquess Classified Stakes.

Performance of the day

Heartache could be the next super sprinter from the Clive Cox stable judged on her performance in the Flying Childers Stakes. It takes a speedy customer to get the better of Havana Grey over five furlongs, but she proved up to the task in some style.

Ride of the day

Silvestre de Sousa showed why he is set to regain the jockeys’ championship after making his win on Desert Skyline in the Doncaster Cup look so easy. Coming from last to first can be a tricky manoeuvre, but he turned it into an art form – on the first time he had sat on the horse.

Quote of the day

“It’s lovely for a yard like ours to have a go against the big boys and come out on top.” Trainer Roger Teal after Tip Two Win won the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes, which starred Frankel in 2010.