Racing: Rally victor

Dakar Rally made his debut in the first race at Doncaster yesterday under the burden of a string of big-race entries, but duly justified them with a winning start.

Though a much-fancied favourite, Henry Cecil's colt only just scrambled home in a photo- finish for Division One of the Laurent-Perrier Rose Champagne Stakes. Well named, being by Green Desert out of Overdrive, Dakar Rally led three furlongs out before having to fight under Steve Cauthen to grab a head verdict over Desert Secret.