Great Generation made a triumphant return to Doncaster, capturing the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes for trainer Marco Botti.
The three-year-old, a three-time winner before this race, had previously excelled with a Group Three victory in the Chartwell Stakes and a solid fourth place in the Summer Stakes. After a disappointing run in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest in Deauville, where she finished last of 15, Great Generation returned to form at Group Three level on Town Moor.
In the rain-softened ground, the 8-1 shot prevailed by a length under Marco Ghiani. Ghiani remarked, "It’s great to see her winning again after a frustrating race in France. Although the ground was soft today, she’s won on good to soft before. Ideally, for a Group race, you’d want faster ground, but she tried really hard and everything went smoothly. I made sure to keep hold of her longer today to get the best out of her."
In the Betfred City of Doncaster Handicap, Telemark capitalized on the softening ground to secure victory for Simon and Ed Crisford. Despite being a 12-1 outsider after a series of below-par runs, the chestnut gelding, who previously showed a preference for soft ground, thrived in the conditions.
Settling well as William Haggas’ Germanic set the pace, Telemark delivered a well-timed challenge to win by a neck, with Golden Mind in second and Germanic finishing third. Simon Crisford said, "I wasn’t expecting such ground, but he thrives on it. He’s always had talent, and the conditions today allowed him to show his best. He needs cover and to switch off, and then he finishes strongly."
Jockey William Davies added, "The fast pace up front helped him relax. He found a great rhythm and the soft ground worked in his favour. I was concerned about being drawn wide, but it ended up being ideal."
Kevin Ryan’s Venture Capital showcased his speed with an impressive win in the Pertemps Network Handicap. The three-year-old, returning to a sprint distance after competing over longer trips, relished the shorter distance and won by a length and a half under Shane Gray.
Gray noted, "He’s quick, especially considering his previous wins over seven furlongs. Despite my doubts about the soft ground, he handled it well and is improving with each run. He has a great attitude and could potentially return to six furlongs, but for now, he looks like a promising five-furlong sprinter."