Newbury Saturday - Al Rayyan (Aston Park) Stakes (Group 3)

THE Group 3 Aston Park Stakes – currently run as the Al Rayyan Stakes – produced the most exciting finish of the day as Frankie Dettori produced Haskoy to get the best of a three-way photo for the mile-and-a-half contest.

He edged out Israr (John and Thady Gosden/Jim Crowley) by a short head, with a back-to-form Bolshoi Ballet (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) just a head behind the runner-up having led entering the final furlong. Haskoy, a 5/2 chance, needed every yard of the trip, but got rolling late after Dettori switched her to the inside of the track, and her determined run won the day.

Favourite Yibir looked rusty on his first start since July and merely stayed on late to be fourth.

Third past the post in the St Leger last autumn, she has seen that form boosted since and, although demoted for interference there, she remains an exciting prospect at staying trips, having made her racecourse debut as recently as last July.

She will benefit from a step back up in trip when next seen and was cut by the off-course bookmakers for the Gold Cup at Ascot next month.

“She is a top-class stayer with a turn of foot,” said Beckett, who pointed out that he was unable to fit her with the declared tongue tie, meaning she raced without it.

“She’ll come forward for today – she was only just ready for it. The Gold Cup is more like a war than a horse race. It is a massive ask, but we are more inclined to do it now she has won a group race.”