THE flat season opened at the Esher course on Friday with the Group 2 bet365 mile attracting a small but select field starring Royal Ascot winner Palace Pier (121).

As it turned out the race proved little more than an exercise canter for Frankie Dettori’s mount, as the son of Kingman ran out an eight-length winner. John Gosden reported that his original plan was to go straight to the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 15th but chose to run at the Esher venue as the ground would be in his favour.