THE St Leger meeting made its usual comparatively quiet start on Wednesday, when the Listed Scarbrough Stakes over five furlongs went to 2/1 favourite Global Applause, though only after a sustained duel with the ultra-consistent El Astronaute.

Newmarket trainer Robert Cowell has made a name for himself with sprinters and Global Applause, formerly with Ed Dunlop, had looked good when accounting for a fair field at Sandown last time.