Defoe rediscovers scoring touch with Group 3 John Porter stroll

Whatever troubled Defoe in last year's St Leger was certainly put behind him when the colt rediscovered the form he had taken into the Doncaster Classic with an impressive comeback victory.

On the track where he landed the Geoffrey Freer Stakes last August, Defoe strode away from Danehill Kodiac to win his second Group 3 prize, the Dubai Duty Free-backed John Porter Stakes, without having to be asked any serious questions by rider Andrea Atzeni.

The performance may prove good enough for trainer Roger Varian to fast-track the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned Defoe straight back into Group 1 company for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, for which he was installed 5-1 by Paddy Power.