Big Horse wins Doncaster Cup - Now for Verse, Ainippe, Arod and Owen

Pallasator dwarfs rival runners, but he put his stride to good use when landing the Gr.2 Doncaster Cup, which will be 250 years old next year - that's ten years senior to today's Gr.1 Ladbrokes St Leger, the world's oldest Classic.

Landing his second victory since joining Qatar Racing in August 12 months ago, six-year-old Pallasator was in boyish mood after leaving the paddock and gave jockey Andrea Atzeni a few anxious moments before condescending to head to the start, but in the race he was all virtue, pulling clear before the furlong pole and staying on for victory over Clondaw Warrior and Suegioo.

Pallasator (Andrea Atzeni) has his rivals on the stretch

David Redvers, who manages Qatar Racing's interests, said: "Well done to [trainer] Sir Mark Prescott and his team - his groom Rosie is one of the smallest, yet she was leading up one of the biggest horses in Flat racing. I suggested to Sheikh Fahad he might like to come and try him at the opening meet of the Ledbury Hunt, because he's certainly big enough for the hedges.

"He's a funny fish, and who knows what goes on in his mind, but he's good when he puts it in. It's the start of a big weekend."

Bear Cheek's fourth place in Doncaster's Gr.2 Flying Childers Stakes, Opal Tiara's third spot in the Gr.2 May Hill Stakes, and Flying Empress's conditions-race win at Salisbury backed up Pallasator's victory, and tees up an exciting two days for Qatar Racing, which is set to be represented in four top-level races.

Simple Verse runs in today's Gr.1 Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes (15.45) at Doncaster, bidding to follow up her impressive Goodwood win in Group Three company - this is a big step up, but she stays and is in good form.

Simple Verse, seen winning under Harry Bentley at Goodwood

Also today, Ainippe bids to extend her winning run to three in the Gr.1 Coolmore-sponsored Matron Stakes (18.20) at Leopardstown, where QIPCO sponsors the Irish Champion Stakes. It will be a stunning spectacle if rain does not lead to key non-runners - Derby winner Golden Horn and Guineas hero Gleneagles are but two brilliant horses set to line up.

Tomorrow, Arod heads to Longchamp for the Gr.1 Prix Du Moulin (15.45 UK time), won last year by Qatar Bloodstock stallion Charm Spirit. Arod, who ran a superb race when second last time out in the Gr.1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, faces nine rivals, including the very smart Maimara, a daughter of Makfi, who also stands under the Qatar Bloodstock banner.

Mr Owen, trained in France by Francois Rohaut, completes the big four when he runs in tomorrow's $1m Woodbine Mile (22.45 UK time) in Canada, but there are a host of other high-class performers in action, notably Pearl Secret and Hot Streak who contest the Gr.2 Flying Five Stakes (15.05) at the Curragh tomorrow, and Lightning Spear, a fine fourth in the Gr.1 Prix Jacques Le Marois last time out, and a runner in today's Gr.2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown.

Pictures by Laurence Squire and Dan Abraham