Hussey and O'Brien land Listed feature with rapidly improving Sir Erec

While heavy ground contributed to US Navy Flag's demise in the Everest on Saturday, the torrential downpours here played to his stablemate Sir Erec's strengths, with the rapidly improving Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old powering clear to land the Listed Martin Molony Stakes.

With Ryan Moore, Donnacha O'Brien, Seamie Heffernan and Wayne Lordan all in Group 1 action elsewhere, Michael Hussey was the rider charged with galvanising the 92-rated son of Camelot, and the pair got the better of 6-4 favourite The King, who on ratings was 15lb the superior of the 9-2 winner.

Sir Erec (nearside) powering away from The King inside the final furlong of the Listed Martin Molony StakesCredit: Caroline Norris

Hussey said of the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup entrant: "He's a nice horse. We got into a bit of a pocket but he got me out of it and quickened up well.