IT was always quite clear that Defoe was well below his best in last season’s St Leger and he underlined the point again by pulling well clear in the Group 2 Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes over a mile and a half.

Not highly tried here, he was sent off at 1/2 in a five-runner field and briefly looked to have a bit to do as James Doyle cleverly moved to the stands’ rail on Red Verdon and kicked hard for home running down into the Dip. However, Andrea Atzeni never looked concerned and a few seconds later Defoe surged past in the centre, going on to win by nearly four lengths.