Doncaster racesJohnny Murtagh and champion trainer Michael Stoute teamed up to take the feature Freephone Stanleybet Doncaster Mile on the opening day of the turf Flat season yesterday with Sublimity.

The win bodes well for Sublimity's stable companion Fremen, ante-post favourite for tomorrow's Lincoln, who has been working with Sublimity on the Newmarket gallops.

Jimmy Scott, representing Stoute, said: "Our horses are looking really good this year."

Lundy's Lane was quickly away in the Listed contest run over the round mile and set a searching gallop, chased by Gateman, with Sublimity settled on the inside. Three furlongs out the leader folded and Gateman went for home with Sublimity hard on his heels.

Murtagh switched the 7-to-2 chance to challenge Mark Johnston's charge on the outside and after a brief struggle got the upper hand.

Sublimity ran on strongly to score by a length and a quarter from Gateman, with Rockets 'N Rollers three and a half lengths away in third.

Afterwards Murtagh said: "He felt nice. He settled well. I was always travelling well.

"I came there a furlong down, but you know Mark Johnston's horses, you never get by them easily and he kept hanging on in there. But my horse just had that extra bit of toe.

"He quickened well and has done very well for his first run of the year."