Hot Balty on Gimcrack menu

Sir Alex Ferguson decided to stay away from Newbury yesterday as Balty Boys, the horse he owns jointly, secured an easy win but he could soon have a bigger occasion on which to watch the two-year-old.

The 7-4 favourite, trained by Barry Hills, romped home in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes.

Charlie Hills, the trainer's son and assistant, said: "We were a bit disappointed with his debut at Newmarket when he didn't get home over seven furlongs and was a bit keen. But we have always liked him and we might look at the Gimcrack. Either that or the Mill Reef Stakes."

Meanwhile, Goldikova took her winning tally at the highest level to 14 when landing the Prix Rothschild at Deauville for the fourth successive year.

Olivier Peslier had the cheek to ease down the Freddie Head-trained six-year-old in the dying strides after putting the race to bed a furlong out.

Timepiece, trained by Sir Henry Cecil and ridden by Tom Queally, was a creditable third behind the French wondermare.