Star sparkles for Cecil

Sea Star provided some rare sparkle in a disappointing season for Henry Cecil by making a successful debut in Listed company at York today.

His trainer had saddled only two winners previously in 2002, and failed even to muster a runner in either of the first two Classics.

And Sea Star, who provided one of those victories when lifting a handicap at Newmarket last month, had been an expensive failure for the multiple former champion when an unlucky-in-running fourth in the Victoria Cup at Ascot a fortnight ago.

Stable-jockey Richard Quinn was determined to avoid hard-luck stories this time and set out to make all in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Hambleton Rated Stakes on a day when front-runners appeared to have a considerable advantage.

His tactics paid off as the 6-4 favourite maintained his advantage throughout to score by a length and a half from Duck Row.

'It seems to be a front-runner`s track and I wasn`t going to give the advantage away,' Quinn said. 'We were drawn install one and the wind was up our tails.

'He was quite happy to go along in front. I slowed down and gave him a breather then increased and increased it in the straight.

'He is a lightly-raced four-year-old who has won two of his three runs this year. It is a tremendous result for the yard and hopefully he has got a good future. He could go for the Royal Hunt Cup.'

Royal Ascot also beckons for the two-year-old Royal Beacon, who was winner from the front in the EBF Convergent Telecom Dealers Maiden Stakes.

The colt left a debut defeat at Hamilton firmly behind him as he landed the six-furlong contest by a length and a quarter from New Wish.

'He was working well before Hamilton and he was obviously very disappointing there,' said trainer Mark Johnston.

'He is a lovely horse and showed here what we thought of him - we`ll be looking at the Coventry Stakes.

'He is the right kind of horse as he is mature and laid-back, and he`ll improve again between now and June.'

Jalousie defied lack of a prep run to get the better of a tight finish to the Listed Convergent Telecom Middleton Stakes.

Running for the first time in seven months, she held off Salim Toto by a head under a strong ride by George Duffield.

But winning trainer Chris Wall was quick to share the credit with Sean Woods, who had charge of the filly prior to his move to Hong Kong earlier this year and advised the owner to send her to Wall.

'I owe a debt of thanks to Sean for recommending me,' Wall said. 'A lot of credit must go to him as he did all the pre-season preparation with her.

'She`s a tough filly and I thought we were in trouble for a long way but she was like a terrier who wouldn`t let go.

'The owner Dennis Yardy is setting up a small stud and a Listed win like this will make her an excellent and valuable mare to breed from.'

Elvington Boy upstaged better-backed stable-companion Doctor Spin in the five-furlong Convergent Systems Avaya Stakes.

The 12-1 shot made his price look very generous as he flew out of the stalls, made all under Dale Gibson and had half a length to spare over Boanerges at the line, with Doctor Spin (9-1) no better than fifth of the 20 runners.

'He got three lengths at the start and that did it,' Easterby said of the winner. 'He never lets up and he made all.

'We`ll keep running him and he will win in his turn.'