Spinning on top of the World

Spinning World posted a record time for the race when winning the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois for the second consecutive year at Deauville yesterday.

The sole British challenger, Starborough, ridden by Frankie Dettori, was made favourite for the mile contest, but, after contesting the lead with Piperi, the winner's pacemaker, the David Loder-trained colt faded to finish fourth of the six runners. "He was fighting for the lead for six furlongs," Loder said. "You can draw a line through that race."

Incredibly, the winner was providing the Niarchos family with a seventh victory in the race since the late Stavros Niarchos instigated sponsorship of the event by his Haras de Fresnay le Buffard in 1988.

The winning jockey, Cash Asmussen, appeared close to tears as he unsaddled the 2.9-1 winner, and announced: "I dedicate this win to both Stavros Niarchos and Francois Boutin."

Boutin was the legendary French trainer for whom Asmussen rode so many Niarchos-owned winners until the trainer's own death in 1995.

The Jonathan Pease-trained winner, who beat Daylami by two lengths, now goes for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp followed by the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Pontefract's Sunday success continued with 13,700 paying customers and a further 5,000 children at yesterday's meeting.