ONE OF racing's most enduring systems again came up trumps as highflying Henry Cecil continued his domination of the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster yesterday. The Newmarket maestro, who dashed to the races after jetting in from America yesterday morning, seized the Group Three event for the ninth time in 15 runnings when Reams of Verse exhibited her Classic potential.

The victory increased Cecil's advantage at the top of the trainers' table and left him eyeing an 11th title. Reams of Verse earned quotes ranging from 10 to 1 to 16s for next year's 1000 Guineas with a smooth dismissal of 11 rivals.

Pat Eddery always appeared to have the opposition covered and after taking the race by the scruff of the neck was able to saunter home by two lengths from Dame Laura.

Cecil had driven to Doncaster from his Newmarket home to watch the filly after returning from an equine shopping trip to America.

I rate her highly - she works well at home - and she's in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot," he said. "The owner has one or two others in the race and I don't know whether she will go there yet. If she doesn't run at Ascot I might put her away for the season.

Cecil moved ahead of Saeed Bin Suroor yesterday in the race to be champion trainer and, with Dushyantor holding a favourite's chance in the St Leger, has a great chance of extending his lead.

"I would like to be champion - I've always wanted to be champion again," said Cecil, who last held the title in 1993.

Cecil reports Dushyantor in great shape ahead of tomorrow's Classic and confident the colt will put up a bold show.

"Everyone says: `Will he stay?'. But I'm not worried about that at all," he said. "If I was a jockey I'd ride him before everything else in the race - but whether I'm a good judge or not we'll see on Saturday."

Anyone within earshot of Barry Hills on Wednesday would have known about the trainer's confidence in My Branch for the Kyoto Sceptre Stakes.

Available at 6 to 1 in the morning, the filly was sent off 7 to 2 for the Listed event and justified Hills' faith with a clear-cut defeat of High Summer.

My Branch had appeared to lose her way after a highly-creditable fourth in the 1000 Guineas.

But Hills said: "She'd been working with Ruznama and the pair of them have been a joy to behold. It's just a shame that Ruznama came into season and couldn't give her running in the earlier race.

"My Branch ran too free in the Jersey Stakes and on her last outing she was drawn on the outside and kept getting shuffled back."

Newmarket's Challenge Stakes is now on the agenda as the filly tries to gain a valuable Group race success.