Makfi gets better of Goldikova

The 2,000 Guineas winner left a dismal display in the St James's Palace Stakes behind him to show his Classic win was no fluke.

The Mikel Delzangles-trained colt led inside the final furlong and drew away from his field on the rain-softened ground to score comfortably from Goldikova with Paco Boy just behind in third.

As expected, Goldikova's two pacemakers, Saying and Only Green, set off in front with the brilliant mare on their tails.

Makfi had a nice position with Christophe Soumillon getting plenty of cover while Paco Boy was at the rear towards the far side.

Although Goldikova took the lead as planned she could not quite produce her trademark acceleration in the testing conditions. It was Makfi who had the potent turn of foot and he swept into the lead to put clear daylight between his two talented older rivals.

At Pontefract meanwhile, Alan Swinbank notched up his 500th career victory in spectacular style as Lucky Windmill (12-1) blew his rivals away in the Betfair Maiden Stakes.

Swinbank has been in cracking form of late and the Melsonby handler has never looked back since recording his first winner in March 2001 with Batoutoftheblue.

This week's racing is dominated by the York Ebor Festival, but it emerged yesterday that Ryan Moore will miss the start of the meeting tomorrow after delaying his return due to the wrist injury he sustained in a fall at Windsor last Monday.

The champion jockey had several rides booked for the opening day of the four-day fixture on the Knavesmire, including Total Command in the sportbingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes for his boss Sir Michael Stoute.

The mount of the Ladbrokes St Leger hopeful has gone to Olivier Peslier.

The Frenchman benefited from Moore's decision to choose Workforce when steering Harbinger to a spectacular victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Moore, three-time champion jockey, is currently third in this year's title race behind Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes.

The Ebor is the big betting race of the festival, and Eddie Ahern is hoping there will not be too much cut in the ground ahead of Overturn's run in the big stayers' handicap.

The jockey is worried that further rain at York could blunt the horse's speed in the prestigious handicap.

Overturn, trained by Donald McCain, is chasing an unusual treble after winning the Northumberland Plate on the flat at Newcastle and the Galway Plate over hurdles.

"He just loves the fast ground and I'm a bit worried about what way the ground is going to be at York," said Ahern, who partnered the six-year-old at Newcastle.

"If there is rain, is it going to dent his speed?

"He's done nothing wrong. He was impressive at Galway and was impressive in the Northumberland Plate.He's a very good quality horse."

Ahern added: "He's a jump horse, but he has a lot of speed for the flat as well. When he came out of the stalls at Newcastle, he came out very quick. He had the early speed to get me to the rail, so it made my job very simple."

Overturn is currently third favourite at a general 7-1 for the Ebor.