Toast Of New York back in business at Lingfield

Toast Of New York made a triumphant return to action in the Betway Conditions Stakes at Lingfield.

Jamie Osborne's six-year-old entire had not been seen since being agonisingly beaten by a nose in the Breeders' Cup Classic of 2014, an absence of 1,130 days during which time he had a spell at stud in Qatar.

Sent off at 2-1, despite having plenty in hand on the official figures, he was ridden for the first time in a race by Frankie Dettori and took up the running before the turn into the straight, showing the right sort of attitude close home to hold off Petite Jack.

Toast Of New York was initially retired following a tendon injury when being prepared for the Dubai World Cup of 2015.

Dettori told At The Races: "Jamie has done a great job to get him in this shape first time out. He still feels a little rusty, but after three years off I can't emphasise enough how brilliant everyone has been to get him back. He's only 70 per cent at the moment, but he still won. That's a step forward and should improve him a lot. After three years that was a great effort."

Wearing a hood for the first time, Toast Of New York threw Dettori off on the way to the start. Thankfully the stalls were not far from the chute and he was able to be walked to the start, with Dettori jogging alongside. Always prominent in the race itself, Dettori had enough confidence to kick on some way out and it is a credit to Osborne and his team he was fit enough to win after such a layoff. Although he did have upwards of 20lb in hand on his best form, his rivals were all rated over 100, adding extra merit to the performance.