Frankie Dettori recorded a short-price double in the two Group Two races at Doncaster this afternoon, with star stayer Stradivarius scoring in the Magners Rose Doncaster Cup and A’Ali bouncing back to form in the Wainwright Flying Childers Stakes.
Stradivarius secured his 10th successive victory with a dominant display as the 1-9 favourite.
John Gosden's five-year-old has completely dominated the staying division over the past couple of seasons - with back-to-back wins in the Yorkshire Cup, Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup seeing him scoop the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million in both 2018 and 2019.
In the immediate aftermath of his latest triumph at York, connections suggested his next port of call would be next month's Long Distance Cup at Ascot - which he also won last season - but a late change of heart saw Gosden bring his charge to Town Moor.
With old foe Dee Ex Bee a late withdrawal, Stradivarius had few concerns for the duration of the two-and-a-quarter-mile contest.
After initially being left in front, Andrew Balding's Cleonte was sent on by Oisin Murphy heading out for the second circuit in an attempt to inject some pace in the race, and he was still going great guns rounding the turn for home.
However, once popped the question by Dettori, Stradivarius swiftly reeled in the leader and kicked clear for a comfortable one-and-three-quarter-length victory.
Cleonte boxed on admirably to fill the runner-up spot, with the Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite - runner-up to stablemate Thomas Hobson in last year's renewal - back in third.
Legend! 10 straight wins for Stradivarius and a full set of UK cup races. One of the game's great stayers! #WHStLeger @DoncasterRaces pic.twitter.com/vasjAxOuCL
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 13, 2019
Simon Crisford's juvenile A'Ali landed the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and doubled his big-race tally in the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville on his next start.
He could finish only fifth when stepped up to six furlongs for the Prix Morny at Deauville last month, but looked more at home back over the minimum trip on Town Moor.
With Dettori in the saddle, the 6-4 chance was soon tracking the pacesetting Irish raider Wheels On Fire - and quickened up smartly in the last half-furlong to score by a length with something to spare.
Dream Shot finished strongly to pip Wheels On Fire to second.
York winner Alligator Alley was a heavily-supported even-money favourite for Joseph an Donnacha O'Brien, but was restless in the stalls and never really threatened to land a telling blow, finishing sixth of the seven runners.
The exciting Molatham played a starring role in a 616-1 four-timer for jockey Jim Crowley.
Having ridden a double at the track from just two rides on Thursday, Crowley steered each of his four mounts on day three of the Leger meeting to victory to give him six straight winners.
Next up for the 2016 champion jockey is Elarqam in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
"It's been marvellous. I hope it will keep going for another couple of days," said Crowley.
The undoubted highlight of the rider's tremendous afternoon was his triumph aboard Molatham, who enhanced his reputation with an assured display in the Weatherbys Global Stallions App Flying Scotsman Stakes.
The seven-furlong contest was won by the one and only Frankel in 2010 and has thrown up smart winners since then, too - with subsequent Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win scoring in 2017 and Royal Ascot victor Sangarius doing the business 12 months ago.
Having pushed the exciting Mums Tipple close on his racecourse debut at Ascot in July, the Roger Varian-trained Molatham went one better in the usually-informative Convivial Maiden at York last month - and was a well-backed even-money favourite stepping up to Listed class.
The son of 2000 Guineas hero Night Of Thunder travelled strongly for much of the way and picked up well at the business end to beat Aidan O'Brien's Wichita by half a length.
Crowley had got his afternoon off to a great start aboard the Stuart Williams-trained Breathtaking Look (20-1) in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes, while his third winner came through Raaeb (11-10 favourite) in the Gary Reid Memorial Irish EBF Maiden Stakes.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained newcomer looks a smart prospect after neatly taking care of the more experienced Arabian Moon by a length and a quarter.
Crowley completed his afternoon's work when getting Enjazaat (6-1), trained by Owen Burrows, up to collar Medahim by a neck in the Follow At WillHillRacing On Twitter Handicap.
Sleeping Lion came from last to first to claim top honours in the William Hill Mallard Handicap.
