Archie Watson and Wathnan Racing to ponder tilt at Abbaye with smart Flying Childers winner Aesterius

First Doncaster, then Paris. It very nearly worked for Archie Watson six years ago and he is tempted to try to avenge that agonising defeat this autumn.

Back in 2018, the trainer took the Flying Childers Stakes with Soldier's Call then sent him on to Longchamp where he narrowly failed to beat his elders in the Prix de l'Abbaye, caught in the final strides and beaten a head and a short head.

Now Aesterius, who emulated his trainer's former star by taking the Prix d'Arenberg less than a fortnight before arriving on Town Moor, could also attempt to take advantage of the two-year-olds' weight allowance in the Group 1 dash on Arc day.

After Wathnan Racing's colt had scored by a neck under James Doyle, Watson said: "He's very talented. He won the d'Arenberg, he's come here 12 days later and backed it up. It's the same double we did with Soldier's Call.

"The Breeders' Cup will be his end-of-season target, that should really suit him. Do we have a crack at the Abbaye in the meantime? He's a course-and-distance winner at Longchamp and he'd get 18lb off his elders. Soldier's Call was only beaten a neck in it by Mabs Cross after winning this and it's something we'll have a good discussion about.

"The weight is a big thing and there's a fair draw bias. The way he jumps and travels, if he was to be drawn low in an Abbaye he might be hard to peg back."

Mallard success for Waugh

Amie Waugh, a one-time point-to-point rider who turned professional only three years ago, continued her memorable season by pipping two of the best jockeys around in a tight finish to the £70,000 Betfred Mallard Handicap.

The 3lb claimer is one of the shortest riders in the weighing room but had the strength to drive the Jim Goldie-trained Faylaq to victory by a short head and a neck from Oisin Murphy on Subsequent and James Doyle on Shadow Dance.

Faylaq (Amie Waugh, nearest) beats Subsequent (centre) and Shadow Dance in the Mallard HandicapCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

It was the latest notable success for a jockey who has more than doubled her previous best total of winners in a season when she also won the £10,000 jockeys' prize at the Thirsk Sky Bet Sunday Series meeting and recently reached 50 career victories.

Waugh won 24 races as an amateur, including 15 over jumps, before deciding to take advantage of her size to become a professional on the Flat and was back at the scene of her first major success on Call Me Ginger in the Portland Handicap in 2022.

"I just had to get him relaxed and it's worked out well," she said of Faylaq. "He was travelling so well and he picked up nicely."

She was quick to thank Goldie, who is in hospital after a hip operation, and said: "The team have been so good to me, I've had some great opportunities this summer and I hope it will continue."

Listed breakthrough for Amo trainer

Raphael Freire sent out his first Listed winner since he started training for Amo Racing in Lambourn when Benevento took the 7f Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes under David Egan.

Benevento (David Egan, left) beats Symbol Of Honour in the Flying ScotsmanCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The winner had finished second over 6f in similar company at Ripon last month and his trainer said: "I expected him to take a big step forward from last time.

"It looked as though he wanted to step up in trip and I thought Doncaster would be a better track for him as it was less undulating, so he could travel easier and finish his race."

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