CRACKSMAN, third in the Derby and a rather unlucky runner-up in the Irish Derby, ran out a very easy winner of the Group 2 Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes, beating Venice Beach and Mirage Dancer by six lengths and the same. However, there is no temptation to supplement him for the St Leger, said John Gosden.

There were two absentees because of the ground, Count Octave and Khalidi, and it was Atty Persse, shadowed by Venice Beach, who made the running. The latter came wide into the straight but Frankie Dettori, making his move some way from home, pushed Cracksman into the lead and eventually pulled well clear, Venice Beach having continued to harry him for a while.

Cracksman, 4/6, successful five years on from his sire Frankel’s triumph in the International, was having only his fifth outing, Gosden having placed him with great care.

“He went to sleep for a little while today but then took off,” the trainer said. “Whether he’ll run again this season we’ll have to see. He was only a shell of a horse earlier on and we’ve spaced the races out. There’s a possibility he could go for the Arc but it’s no more than that, a possibility. We’re already thinking about next year and his owner, Anthony Oppenheimer, would love to win the King George.”

IMPRESSED

Dettori was suitably impressed and said: “He’s come on a lot and I asked him to stretch them out because he’s laid back and you’ve got to gee him up a bit or he’d be happy to follow the others. It wasn’t exactly like Frankel but it was nice!”