Ascot beckons for Millenary

Millenary relished the rain as he returned to winning ways in the Princess Of Wales`s UAE Equestrian And Racing Federation Stakes at Newmarket today.

The 2000 St Leger hero enjoys a bit of juice in the ground and the early-morning rain that hit the course was just the ticket for the five-year-old, who completed a double for evergreen rider Pat Eddery.

Forced to switch from the rails as Mubtaker battled for the lead with Yavana`s Pace, Eddery`s mount - the 5-2 favourite - gradually reeled in the first two from the furlong-pole and passed Mubtaker in the final strides to score by a neck.

He will now head for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot at the end of the month, where winning trainer John Dunlop is hoping for similar conditions.

'He does not like fast ground, he needs some ease,' said Dunlop.

'He had to go quite a long way round but that`s the sort of horse he is, he doesn`t have a burst of acceleration, he stays well and he wears them down.

'We`ll have to run in the King George and hope that the ground is right. Then we`ll probably consider the Irish St Leger after that.

'He is a grand horse and he is only five so hopefully he has got plenty more races left in him.'

Irish layers Paddy Power are best-priced about Millenary`s Ascot chances, offering 14-1 (from 20-1).

Mubtaker`s trainer Marcus Tregoning was pleased with the performance of his charge and said: 'I am absolutely delighted with that. The winner was stone-fit and ours was coming back after a lay-off.

'I will put him in the Geoffrey Freer but we will see how he takes this. I don`t want to run him again too quickly.'

Eddery had struck first as Feet So Fast kept favourite-backers happy with a win in the Tote Exacta Rated Stakes.

The Willie Musson-trained son of Pivotal, a 100-30 shot, raced on the far side of the track as the field split into two groups and came flying through the pack to lead a furlong out, scoring by a length and a half from Fayr Jag.

The first four home all came from the group on the far side with fifth-placed Mubaah doing best of those that raced against the stand rail.

Musson admitted that the advantage of the draw may have been on the side of his charge.

'I think we got a bit lucky today but he is a lovely horse, he`s still a baby and he`ll keep improving,' he said.

Coral made Feet So Fast 10-1 joint-favourite for the Vodafone Stewards` Cup at Goodwood but there may be alternative plans for the winner.

'We`ll have to think about that and I`ll talk it through with the owners,' added Musson.

'But I wouldn`t be sure it would be the ideal race for him. I`m not sure whether he would be completely happy on the track.

'We might want to look for a little Listed or Group Three race instead.'