Saddler's Rocks Town Moor

Saddler's Rock: Won the Doncaster Cup

John Oxx's Saddler's Rock finished his race best of all to win the Group Two Stobart Doncaster Cup on Friday.

The three-year-old Irish raider received at least a stone from the older geldings in the contest and he made the most of that allowance under Niall McCullagh.

The 11-2 chance was the first off the bridle turning into the home straight but responded well to pressure to beat Opinion Poll (11-8 favourite) by four lengths.

Frankie Dettori cruised into the contest aboard the market leader and was looking around for dangers before the furlong pole but he had no answer to the winning run from Oxx's charge.

Simply the best

"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 next year's Ascot Gold Cup.

Frankie Dettori felt the runner-up faced an impossible task, saying: "Opinion Poll ran a great race, giving a stone and three pounds to the winner was just a step too far."

His trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni added: "We were beaten by a better horse."