It was a sweet moment for Stoute - and Dettori's fifth victory in the world's oldest Classic.

The flying dismount – the traditional trademark by the Italian after a big race victory - added to the wonderful scenes of elation in the winner's enclosure.

Only Bill Scott (9 winners), Lester Piggott (8) and Fred Archer (6) have ridden more St Leger winners than Dettori in the history of the great race.

Once again he was in the right place at the right time as Ryan Moore, the champion jockey-elect opted to ride the more fancied Stoute runner Doctor Fremantle which finished eighth.

Homebred by the late Lord Weinstock's Ballymacoll Stud in County Meath, Ireland, Conduit had struggled to make an impression as a two-year-old last year, getting off the mark at the third time of asking in a maiden race at Wolverhampton last September.

He won a Heritage Handicap on Derby day in June, and then stepped up in class to finish runner up in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Conduit then signalled his Leger intentions by winning The Gordon Stakes at the 'Glorious Goodwood' meeting.

Sir Michael Stoute's first runner in the St Leger was Abide With Me, which finished fifth in 1974.

The trainer has supplied the runner up on no less than five occasions - and even the great Shergar could only finish fourth in 1981.

Saturday's success, as well as being well overdue, was richly deserved.
When Sir Michael first came to Britain from Barbados in 1965, he spent three years with Malton trainer Pat Rohan before moving to Newmarket.

The two fillies in the race Unsung Heroine and Look Here both ran superbly occupying second and third places respectively.

The big disappointment was the performance of the 9/4 favourite and Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire, who wasn't able to strike a blow as his stamina was found wanting.

But that did not detract from the euphoria experienced by the connections of Conduit, who came out on top in the biggest field to contest the St Leger since 1982.

He took up the cudgels two furlongs from home and, although he edged right in the closing stages, he was not stopping and would not be denied Classic glory.

n There was a French victory in last Saturday's other Group 1 race at Doncaster the Ladbrokes Sprint Cup – a race transferred to Town Moor following the abandonment the previous Saturday of the meeting at Haydock Park.

African Rose, trained at Chantilly by Criquet Head-Maarek and ridden by Stephane Pasquier, justified her position at the head of the market by defeating Assertive by a head.

Although Aidan O'Brien's five runners in the St Leger failed to make the frame he still produced Westphalia to win the Keepmoat Champagne Stakes - the Group 2 contest for leading two-year-olds - and on Thursday Honolulu stormed to victory in the National Express Doncaster Cup.

* Beverley's 2008 season comes to an end next Tuesday when racing is scheduled to begin at 2pm.

* And there is racing at Pontefract next Thursday with the action set to start at 2.30pm.