Last laugh for Sillett

Major Laugh - the horse they couldn`t sell - had the last laugh when winning the Stg£100,000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes at Newmarket today.

Bought for just 2,500 guineas by owner John Sillett, the son of Colonel Collins failed to attract a bid when put through the auction ring and only entered training with Barry Hills in the hope that a buyer would be found.

But Major Laugh has thrived all season, winning three of his 11 races, and his owners are no longer looking for a sale.

Jimmy Quinn stoked up Major Laugh, a 16-1 chance, and, flying down the centre of the course, the pair got up to score by three-quarters of a length.

Former Coventry City football club manager Sillett was unable to contain his amazement that the colt had won such a valuable contest.

'I bought him for 2,500 guineas with one other horse - Direct Play - with a view to pinhooking,' he said. 'But when we took him to the sales nobody was interested so Barry suggested we put him into training and said maybe then we`d get a bid for him.'

The all-conquering Coolmore team put the disappointing performance of Black Sam Bellamy in the opening maiden (well-beaten at 4-9) behind them when Century City landed the Heathavon Stud Houghton Conditions Stakes.

The 15-8 favourite had finished only third when strongly-supported to win a maiden event on his racecourse debut here but had clearly come on considerably for that run.

Century City stayed on stoutly to hold off the challenge of Lunar Sovereign (9-4) by three lengths.

'He has obviously improved a lot since his first run when he was only third...to our cost,' said part-owner John Magnier. 'I wouldn`t think he will run again this season, the ground has gone in Ireland.'

The Tote offer a best-priced 33-1 about his chance in next year`s Sagitta 2000 Guineas but Magnier sounded a note of caution.

'As for the Guineas, you`d have to think he`d stay a mile, he looked like he was going to be swallowed up but he stayed on well today.

'His dam stayed too, but whether he`d be good enough I don`t know.'

Danehurst put a below-par effort in the Prix de l`Abbaye behind her when landing the Travis Perkins Bentinck Stakes.

The speedy daughter of Danehill had her stamina to prove over six furlongs but was given a fine ride by Seb Sanders to collar Orientor and land the Listed prize by one and a half lengths.

Reluctant hero Right Wing put his best foot forward to win the Newmarket Darley Stakes.

Pat Eddery brought the seven-year-old home down the outside to beat Smirk by a length with Lagudin back in third.