Racing: Mediterranean washes Ebor punters away

Aidan O'Brien came to the bookmakers rescue for once as he floored a gamble in the Tote Ebor at York.

The Irishman landed Europe's richest handicap with outsider Mediterranean.

And he took a further stride clear at the top of the table by completing a memorable 64-1 double with Rock Of Gibraltar in the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes 35 minutes later.

Bookmakers on the Knavesmire had looked set for another pasting when Sir Mark Prescott's Foreign Affairs cruised into the lead three furlongs out in the Ebor.

But the 6-1 favourite was tackling a half-mile longer trip this time and started to tread water in the final 300 yards, while the stoutly-bred Mediterranean was finding his stride.

Michael Kinane hit the front inside the final furlong on the 16-1 chance, who went on to land Ireland's first Ebor victory since 1973 by half a length, with 14-1 shot Brother Joe finishing fast to take third another three-quarters of a length back.

Mediterranean could be back in Yorkshire for next month's Rothmans Royals St Leger.

He is quoted at just 10-1 by Ladbrokes for the Doncaster Classic, which his half-brother Classic Cliche won in 1995.

"He is in the Leger and we would consider that," said O'Brien. "We have yesterday's winner Milan and there are the English and Irish St Legers so I am not sure which horse will run in which.

"But Michael said he could not believe how well he was going today.

"Mediterranean is an exciting horse, with so many options open to him. And hopefully he will go on next year.

"Michael said he would take his time and hopefully come through strongly in the straight and that is what happened. This was a big performance for a three-year-old to win over tough older horses."

Foreign Affairs is set to revert to shorter distances.