Classy captain leads by example

Roger Charlton's Group Captain stole the show at Windsor with a rousing victory the totesport.com November Handicap today.

The four-year-old, returned at 10-1, showed good speed inside the final furlong to register a length-and-a-quarter success from Resonate.

Book Of Music and Castle Howard were a length and a half and a head away in third and fourth respectively.

Group Of Music led inside the final furlong and was driven out by Richard Hughes, who was riding the second leg of a 76-1 double.

Charlton said: "He ran a great race last time but I am surprised as he's had such a hold-up - he had a bad scope and coughed.

"He was hack-cantering until 10 days ago and has only done two bits of work.

"I was worried that he hadn't had a proper preparation and I was not very confident."

Winning owner Peter Webb praised the efforts of Charlton and added: "Roger has improved him - I bought him last year and we decided that we would take it easy with the focus on the back-end of the season.

"He missed a nice race at Ascot with flu and it is tempting to think about going over hurdles with him, but he has had back problems."

Earlier in the day, Ryan Moore was crowned champion jockey, Stephen Donohoe picked up the champion apprentice title, while Sir Michael Stoute was, once again, champion trainer.

Lake Toya (5-1) made all for Godolphin in the Listed EBF totesport 0800 221 221 Gillies Fillies' Stakes to deny Mango Mischief by three-quarters of a length.

The Listed Celebrated Artist Piran Strange Paints For SPARKS Stakes went to the Alan Swinbank-trained Alfie Flits (8-1), who was given the office by Robbie Fitzpatrick over a furlong out.

He then showed great tenacity to master Orcadian by five lengths, with Camrose a further three and a half lengths adrift.

Hurdling had been mooted for the winner after a disappointing show last time in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury.

However, the Machiavellian gelding will not be going over obstacles now.

Kenny Williams, travelling head lad to Swinbank, said: "The trainer said that how he runs would determine the future and, thank goodness, he won't be going hurdling now.

"He loved it and settled nicely. Guessing, I would think that it will be Dubai now."

Getting married these days is an expensive business and Francis Norton will have been delighted by Rising Shadow's bravery in getting up on the line in the totescoop6 Wentworth Stakes as his share of the prize money will assist when he ties the knot next week.

Presto Shinko finished second, while Great Britain was third, a further three-quarters of a length away.

Tim Barron, son and assistant to winning trainer David Barron, said of the 11-2 winner: "He has progressed well since his win at York and he needs ease in the ground."

Moore just missed out on yet another winner when beaten three-quarters of a length on Richard Hannon's Danehillsundance by stablemate Edge Closer - ridden by Hughes - in the second division of the EBF Maiden Stakes.

Fort Worth was the same distance away in third.

Hannon said: "The winner's dam (Blue Goddess) was unbeaten herself and this is the first runner out of the mare."

The first division of the European Breeders Fund Maiden went to the Jim Boyle-trained Sunoverregun.

Boyle's 4-1 chance took up the running two furlongs out under Amir Quinn and stayed on well to beat Kyle by half a length with Bussel a further two and a half lengths back in third.

Boyle said: "He knew his job a bit more than when he was third on his debut.

"He won't go on the all-weather and will be a nice horse for next season."

Solid Rock's 16-1 success in the Letheby & Christopher Nursery may have shocked some racegoers but not the winning connections.

Terry Mills' Rock Of Gibraltar colt hit the front 150 yards from home and was pushed out by Dane O'Neill to hold Bertoliver by two lengths

Richard Ryan, assistant to Mills, said: "That was not really a surprise - his form is pretty good as he was unlucky first time, then ran a nice race at Newmarket in a red-hot maiden.

"Last time he was too free and was disappointing."

Willie Musson and Tom Queally teamed up to take the concluding Tote Text Betting 60021 Handicap with Folio, who belied odds of 28-1 to win by a short-head from favourite Rampallion.