Andrea Atzeni on fire
Atzeni's day got off to a good start as he steered Rivet to victory in the Champagne Stakes and he continued in the same form as he picked up another three winners
ANDREA ATZENI starred on the St Leger undercard with a four-timer on Rivet, Breton Rock, Khalidi and Bess Of Hardwick at Doncaster - all for different trainers.
William Haggas thinks highly of Rivet (7-4 favourite) but the youngster was only workmanlike in winning the At The Races Champagne Stakes from Thunder Snow.
"I'm not disappointed, I'm thrilled to bits but I'll need to see it again to assess it," said Haggas.
"He's in everything, we'll see. He'll definitely run again, but over seven (Dewhurst) or a mile Racing Post Trophy), I don't know.
"He's owned by an eclectic bunch, an 87-year-old South African, Des Scott, a little breeder called LK (Lester) Piggott and Mr and Mrs Tabor, but they all leave it to us."
Newmarket handler David Simcock has been in hot form of late and on the back of claiming the Doncaster Cup on Friday with Sheikhzayedroad, he was not surprisingly beaming from ear to ear as his old favourite Breton Rock just got up in the Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes..
Breton Rock is a real mudlark and when the forecast 18 millimetres of rain failed to materialise it seemed his chance had evaporated
However, the punters still piled in, forcing his price down from 9-1 into 7-2 and he was produced in the nick of time by Atzeni, winning in a blanket finish from The Happy Prince and Adaay.
"He's an absolute star, a pleasure to train. He gives his owner a lot of pleasure," said Simcock.
"He finished sixth in the Lockinge on good ground and it being loose here helped him, the rain that came at 11am was massive. His run last week put him spot on for this.
"Andrea is very professional and has always done me a favour."
John Gosden's Khalidi (5-2 joint-favourite) stayed on well to take the Champagne Pommery Nursery Handicap.
Gosden said: "He's a nice horse and the jockey rode him beautifully. Three horses came out of the race so I was delighted to win."
Atzeni then had to survive a stewards' inquiry in the EBF Breeders' Series Fillies' Handicap when Luca Cumani's Bess Of Hardwick (100-30 favourite) hampered runner-up Kiltara.
"It's been a great day and I've been very lucky at this meeting for the last few years," said Atzeni, who won the Leger two years ago on Kingston Hill and last year on Simple Verse.
Simcock was also on the mark with Can't Change It (7-1), who benefited from a Jamie Spencer masterpiece in the Napoleons Casinos & Restaurants Handicap
"That was a proper ride. He has to be ridden like that," said Simcock.
"He enjoyed that little bit of juice. It was too fast for him at Goodwood.
Captain Colby burst through the pack in the final furlong to land the spoils in the Ladbrokes Portland Handicap.
William Buick delivered Ed Walker's four-year-old to steal the show in the valuable sprint over the unique trip of five and a half furlongs.
Walker said of his 6-1 joint-favourite: "He didn't seem to be going a yard, he looked like he was off the bridle and then back on it again, but he finished like a train. He's done it well in the end.
"I think he looks like he needs a step up to six (furlongs), which is great and opens up options.
"It's fine margins with sprinters, from handicaps to Group races - he could be a horse for Dubai. We'll see."
The closing Harriet De-Vere Powell Handicap went to Charlie Appleby's Gold Trail (5-1), stepping up in trip after his fourth-place finish in the John Smith's Cup.
