Mick Channon, who went all the way to the top as a soccer player with Southampton and England, cemented his place as a first-class trainer when saddling Samitar to land the Etihad Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday.

Contact Dancer had to call on all his extensive reserves of stamina to grind out victory in an exciting renewal of the totesport Cesarewitch at Newmarket today.