WILLIAM HAGGAS enjoyed a dream start to the Ebor Festival as he claimed two Group race victories within the space of a little over half-an-hour.

Having claimed the two-year-old Acomb Stakes with Recorder (4-1), who is owned by the Queen, the Newmarket handler was able to celebrate a follow-up success in the Great Voltiguer Stakes courtesy of Storm The Stars (3-1).

A third-placed finisher in the Derby, and a runner-up behind Jack Hobbs in the Irish equivalent, Storm The Stars finally got his head in front to cement his place at the head of the market for next month’s St Leger at Doncaster.

A barnstorming battle with Aidan O’Brien’s Bondi Beach (11-4) meant he had to survive a nervous stewards’ enquiry to land the spoils, but the never-say-die attitude that enabled him to win by half-a-length should stand him in good stead when he steps up to a mile-and-three quarters for the final Classic of the season.

“If he was a human being, he would have green hair and earrings through his nose and his eyebrows,” said Haggas. “He’s a bit of a rebel to society, but he’s tough and when the chips are down, he goes for it.

“He was doing some work on the July course last Friday, and when I got there he was loose. That’s what he’s like, but he’s tough and he’s genuine and that’s all you can really ask for.”

Storm The Stars is generally available as a 5-1 favourite for the St Leger, and Haggas will be hoping for more Classic success when Recorder embarks on his three-year-old campaign next summer.

The two-year-old oozed class as he saw off David Barron’s Bing Bang Bong (10-1) to claim his second win in three outings, and is set to sign off his juvenile campaign with a trip to Ireland.

“I’d like to go for the National Stakes at the Curragh,” said Haggas. “I think he’s ready for that because he’s a strong two-year-old. He’s a very well-bred horse, and we like him a lot. He’s got a lot of ability.”

The only North Yorkshire winner of the day came in the final contest as Richard Fahey’s Mayfair Lady (12-1) raced away from what had looked a strong field to land the Betway Stakes.

Always racing at the front of affairs, Mayfair Lady was an extremely comfortable winner and will almost certainly step up to Group company for her next assignment.

“We’re only 20 minutes down the road, so it’s great to get on the board here,” said Fahey, who is based in Malton. “She’s done it very well. Looking at the field beforehand, it looked a warm race, but she’s spread-eagled them. When she steps up in trip, she’ll get even better.”

Earlier, Nawton’s David O’Meara was rueing a narrow defeat as Highland Acclaim (9-1) just failed to overhaul long-time leader Caspian Prince (20-1) in the final yards of the opening Symphony Group Stakes.