Racing: Lee in luck with Lady

ENCORE M'LADY gave her trainer Francis Lee the biggest domestic win of his career when landing the pounds 40,000 William Hill Trophy at York yesterday, upsetting the favourite Tabook, who had been gambled on to maintain breeding and stable tradition in the race. Lee's filly, a 20-1 shot, took a clear lead approaching the final furlong and was eased down at the finish to beat Hever Golf Rose by a head, with One on One third.

Lee, who has cut back his string to concentrate on his chairmanship of Manchester City, was still confident of a good show from Encore M'Lady. 'She ran a decent race against older horses last week,' he said. 'We'll give her a rest and will think about the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood.'

The Alex Scott-trained Tabook was 4-1 to emulate his sire, Cadeaux Genereux, and the stable's Sheikh Albadou, who both took this contest before progressing to championship status. But he finished down the field, proving himself below the top bracket in common with the other major fancy, Mary Hinge.

Maxine Cowdrey won the Queen Mother's Cup, for women amateur riders, teaming up successfully with trainer Michael Stoute for the fourth time in seven runnings of the race, steering Sadler's Image to an easy win.

Stoute was also on the mark at Sandown, where John Reid partnered the Red Carnival to success in the Portman Square Maiden Fillies Stakes. Reid is favourite to win the jockeys' contest for the Ritz Trophy at Royal Ascot this week.

Lanfranco Dettori maintained his lead in the longer haul of the 1994 riders' championship by riding his 100th winner of the year on Winter Coat in the last at York, notching up the fastest century ever ridden in a British Flat season.

Trainer Charles Cyzer sent out Pursuit Of Glory at Sandown to chalk up a career century of winners on the Flat.

Abroad, another former England football international now thriving in the training ranks, Mick Channon, emulated Lee by scoring with Statom in the Group 3 Criterium di Roma at the Capannelle in Rome.

Tabasco Cat, the Preakness winner, overtook the Kentucky Derby winner, Go for Gin, late on to win the Belmont Stakes by two lengths yesterday.