Celeric chose the scene of his greatest triumph to make his return from the wilderness when winning the Group Three Insulpak Sagaro Stakes at Ascot yesterday.

The bay's last visit to a winner's enclosure had been after his victory through driving rain under Pat Eddery in the 1997 Gold Cup at the Royal Meeting.

In January of the following year, his then trainer David Morley died of a heart attack, and principal owner Christopher Spence transferred him to John Dunlop's Arundel yard.

There were some respectable efforts in his six outings for Dunlop last year, but none of them resulted in victory.

But, as Richard Quinn brought his partner past Shaya - this time under a bright sun - inside the final furlong, connections' wait was over.

At the line he had a length and a half to spare over the runner-up, with the same distance to Canon Can.

"It is wonderful to see the horse back," said Spence, brother-in-law to Celeric's late trainer.

"He had a difficult time last year. John Dunlop had to get used to him and he had to get used to Castle Stables.

"But at the end of last year he was running as well as ever, and John was saying how well he had been going."

Unfortunately for Dunlop, Mawared, his other runner, finished lame after being pushed wide on the turn, in company with Canon Can, by leader Spirit of Love.

"It was a rather mixed race because Mawared is quite significantly lame," said the trainer, who will send Celeric to Sandown for the Henry II Stakes before returning for the Gold Cup.

"My original plan was to come here, then the Henry II, and then come back here," he added.

Dunlop was denied a double when his Worthington Lincoln winner Right Wing ran second behind Duck Row - himself staging a dramatic return to form after a woeful last of 10 in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket on his reappearance - in the Mitsubishi Diamond Vision Stakes.

Insinuate justified support from 7 to 4 to even-money for the Listed EBF Insulpak Swinley Stakes, but it was a close-run thing.

Kieren Fallon, fresh from his four-winner haul at Bath yesterday, took the Henry Cecil-trained filly to the front at the beginning of the straight.

Over a furlong from the finish, rival Sweet Emotion was squeezed for room before unleashing a strong challenge down the centre, failing by a head to get up.

Cassandra Go, who won the Newmarket maiden in which Insinuate had finished third a fortnight ago, took that placing a length and three-quarters away.

Afterwards Cecil insisted it was inexperience that had threatened to undo his chestnut, who raced alone against the far rail.

Adrian Nicholls brought home Great News for new boss Ian Balding for the £35,000-guaranteed Insulpak Victoria Cup, but received a two-day ban (May 7th and 8th) from the stewards for careless riding.

Francis Norton was found guilty of the same offence on Wild Sky and received an identical punishment.

Rod Millman's Garter Conditions Stakes winner Optimaite is likely to come back to Ascot for one of the Royal fixture's juvenile races, while Sampower Star could bid for the Jersey Stakes after seeing off Lionhearted in the Listed Gardner Merchant Pavilion Stakes.

Seb Sanders, successful on Duck Row, completed a double as Scene edged out Harmony Hall in the concluding White Rose Stakes (Handicap).