JOHNSTON’S THE TOAST OF YORK WITH RECORD VICTORY

DAY TWO of York’s Ebor meeting belonged to record-breaking trainer Mark Johnston as the victory of 20-1 shot Poet’s Society was his 4,194th British winner. No one has trained more. After Johnston had edged one clear of previous record-holder Richard Hannon snr, he was cheered into the winner’s enclosure while jockey Frankie Dettori honoured him with a trademark flying dismount followed by a bow. York’s Ebor meeting was a fitting stage for 58-year-old Scot Johnston to make history. His 230-horse stable is just over 40 miles away in the North Yorkshire training centre of Middleham. It was also appropriate for a trainer whose horses are renowned for their toughness that Poet’s Society held off favourite Kynren to win the Clipper Logistics Handicap by a neck after looking likely to be overwhelmed. Having equalled the record on Saturday when Sir Richard Kimble won at Ripon, Johnston (right) admitted he was relieved to finally reach his landmark. But he added: ‘Sometimes you ask how important is it but at the same time I have got to pinch myself. How can you get to 4,194 winners from where we started?’ It began with a handful of mostly hopeless horses in a stable on the Lincolnshire coast where his gallops were the beach which doubled as an RAF bombing range. It was about as far away from the British racing heartlands as you could get for Johnston, who was brought up on an East Kilbride council estate, and his first season in 1987 yielded one winner. The winning performances of Sea of Class and Lah Ti Dah at York yesterday also brought the crowds to their feet. Sea of Class was promoted to favourite for the Arc after a smooth win in the Yorkshire Oaks and Galtres Stakes winner Lah Ti Dah emerged as a leading St Leger hope. The way 7-4 favourite Sea of Class won from Coronet bore no resemblance to the winning distance of two and a quarter lengths. Jockey James Doyle never had to get serious, as had been the case when the filly won the Irish Oaks. Last year’s Yorkshire Oaks was won by subsequent Arc winner Enable and Sea of Class has a great chance of repeating the feat. Asked if she was the best horse he had trained, William Haggas, celebrating his 58th birthday, said with a smile: ‘I don’t have many like this.’

MICK O’TOOLE, one of the most popular and respected figures in Irish racing, has died aged 86. His eight Cheltenham Festival winners included Davy Lad in the 1977 Gold Cup, while two years later he trained Dickens Hill to victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Eclipse Stakes.