Light Shift wins Oaks for Cecil

Racing:  Light Shift (13-2) landed an emotional eighth success for Henry Cecil in the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.

Racing:  Light Shift (13-2) landed an emotional eighth success for Henry Cecil in the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.

Despite saddling the unplaced hot favourite Passage Of Time, the resurgent Cecil, who recently fought stomach cancer, still managed to add to his incredible list of British Classics with the Kingmambo filly.

Ted Durcan sent her to the front fully two furlongs out and she showed great determination to hold off Aidan O'Brien's Peeping Fawn (20-1) by half a length, with the latter's stable companion All My Loving another four lengths back in third.

The runners were taken through the early stages by Sues Surprise and Kayah, with Richard Hughes sitting pretty just behind the leaders on the market leader.

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However, coming round Tattenham Corner Hughes slightly lost his position on Passage Of Time as Mick Kinane moved the gambled-on All My Loving to the front.

But Durcan had all the moves covered and Light Shift soon shot three lengths clear before finding enough to hold off Martin Dwyer and Peeping Fawn for a hugely-popular success.

Back in the winner's enclosure, an emotional Cecil was holding back the tears.

He said: "That reception was fantastic. I thought they would go very close. I don't know what happened to the other filly (Passage Of Time) yet. I thought there wouldn't be much between them.

"It's lovely for Ted. He's a marvellous jockey and a great friend. It's also marvellous for the staff. They have been a great support to me.

"This means a lot. I'd like to say thank you to everybody. It's lovely to be back again

Scorpion (8-1), winner of the 2005 St Leger, bounced back to his sparkling best with a thrilling display in the Vodafone Coronation Cup.

Settled in second behind stable companion Septimus, Aidan O'Brien's charge picked up in great style when asked for his effort by Mick Kinane.

He passed the line one and a quarter lengths clear of Septimus, with Maraahel third.

But both last year's Derby winner Sir Percy and St Leger winner Sixties Icon were desperately disappointing.

O'Brien said: "He just had a few niggly problems last year and he came back very well on his first run this year at Chester.

"Mick said he blow up when he turned in there, so obviously a lot of improvement came from that and we are delighted.

"He's a warm-blooded free-sweater. You'd probably be more anxious if he wasn't doing that than if he was doing it."