Three and easy for Godolphin

Blue was the colour at York as Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor masterminded a successful trek north from Newmarket to plunder three races with Fairmile, Amarna and Calming Influence.

Farmile got the job done at 7-2 in the opening Garbutt & Elliott Stakes, trumping Sunshine Kid by three lengths – with better-fancied stablemate Best Alibi (5-2 favourite) back in third.

Bin Suroor said: “He’s improved from last time and he was nice and relaxed before the race.

“Ted (Durcan) said he is a sweet horse and switched off well in the race.

“We’ll try to find a better one for him now.”

Similar comments were bandied around after Amarna regained the winning thread in the £18,000 TSG Stakes.

Bin Suroor was once again represented by more than one horse, but parity was restored in the one-mile feature handicap as Frankie Dettori got the leg up on the right one – much to the delight of those who steamed into the 5-2 favourite.

Bin Suroor said: “He’s a very tough horse. He has now won four of his six races and I think he was a little bit unlucky (when second) last time.

“There is no real plan for him but we’ll probably find another race before the end of the season as he is so tough and he takes his races so well.

“He might be able to get a mile and a quarter, but I think a mile is just right for him now.”

Calming Influence earned a quote of 33-1 from VC Bet for next season’s 2000 Guineas and Derby after slamming his rivals by five lengths and more in the IG Index EBF Maiden.

Bin Suroor said: “I like him and he had been working well at home, but better ground might suit him even better.

“He relaxed very well, was professional and finished his race very well. He might have one more run now but we might also take him back to Dubai after that.

“He’s a horse to look forward to next season.”

Esthlos (6-1) found a rare turn of foot to win the Betfair Apprentice Training Series Finale Stakes, in which the burgeoning talents of his partner Luke Morris were well advertised.

Princess Ellis was earlier forced to shoulder a hefty penalty in the Persimmon Homes Stakes but still rattled up a quick double.

Eric Alston’s three-year-old is evidently teak-tough and made just about all the running under Kevin Darley to hold off Valley Of The Moon by a short head.

Darley was left with a slightly sour taste in his mouth after being handed a two-day careless riding ban (October 23-24).

Another young recruit to show a willing attitude was Floristry, who dug deep to see off 4-1 favourite Striking Spirit in the Web Offset Stakes.

After landing odds of 8-1 by a neck, winning rider Ryan Moore said: “That was tough and she’s a nice filly.”