Yeats, the impressive winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup this season, had no reply once headed by the Michael Kinane-ridden Kastoria in the final 100 yards, but in contrast it was all smiles in the Oxx camp afterwards.

The trainer was sending out the third Irish St Leger winner of his career, and reflected, "I thought she'd go close because she's been working well at home, but I didn't expect her to beat Yeats. She's just a terrific mare who has never let us down. What she wants is a real good horse to follow, and then to pounce late."

Oxx will talk to Pat Downes, racing manager to Kastoria's owner the Aga Khan, first before deciding whether the mare travels to Toronto for next month's Canadian International. However he did say, "If she's improved as much as I think she has, it might be worth having a crack at it." In contrast, Yeats has been pushed out from 5/1 favourite to 12/1 for the Melbourne Cup.

Oxx and Kinane initiated a double with a convincing four and a half length success through Pat Garvey's filly Arch Swing in the Group 3 C.L.

Weld Park Stakes. Oxx commented, "She's a good filly with a good pedigree as well.

Today was a big step up for her, but she was always travelling well. She's in the Prix Marcel Boussac, but it's only two weeks away and I'd prefer it if there was a longer interval.

We'll see."

William Hill and Cashmans both introduced Arch Swing into their betting for next year's Stan James 1,000 Guineas at 20/1.

Fallon's tale of woe commenced in the Speedy Ireland EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden, a race in which his mount Facchetti, the even money favourite could finish no closer than seventh behind stable-companion Gstaad, a 25/1 chance.

Aidan O'Brien was critical afterwards of the decision to allow 21 juveniles to run in the race, and said, "Kieren's horse was on his knees after a furlong and nearly got brought down. It's dangerous and they'd want to take a look at it."

The Stewards subsequently held an enquiry into the incident where Faccheti and Beechside both received interference and lost ground, but Heffernan was deemed to be the guilty party and picked up a two-day ban.

It was a similar story in the Group 3 Ballygallon Stud Renaissance Stakes, with Beauty Bright, the 14/1 outsider of O'Brien's duo, taking the spoils under Heffernan, with Fallon's mount Chief Crazy Horse finishing sixth.

Fallon did, however, salvage a winner in the Masterchefs Hospitality Handicap through the Willie Mullins-trained Tango Foxtrot.