SHE lost nothing in her first defeat, Attraction, the double Guineas winner and best of her generation.

Tuesday saw the Duke of Roxburghe's homebred Efisio filly tackle older rivals for the first time in her ninth race, the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

Under Kevin Darley, Attraction went about her usual front-running role, but the older Soviet Star (four to her three) went past her under Johnny Murtagh to win for James Fanshawe.

Considering the winner had been a runner-up to the colt Refuse To Bend, winner on Saturday of the Eclipse, Attraction lost no caste in this two-and-a-half lengths beating.

She was the same margin clear of the next, the French three-year-old Baqah with the rest coming home one-by-one. Mark Johnston's star still shines, in our eyes. She may now have a break, either until the Prix Jacques le Marois in mid August, or perhaps until next year.

This evening at Chepstow, Middleham's other good filly, Patrick Haslam's Kinnaird, is due to contest the Group 3 Daffodil Stakes, another Kevin Darley ride, and with a very good chance of success.

Interestingly, another bred by the Duke of Roxburghe and trained by Johnston, won the 12f maiden at Pontefract the same afternoon, Bendarshaan, partnered by Keith Dalgleish.

Johnston has not been short of wins elsewhere, either, at Epsom, Sandown and Catterick. And at Newmarket on Wednesday, success tasted all the sweeter when Bandari under Richard Hills proved the pundits wrong, and the trainer right, by landing the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes over a mile and a half - most had said the horse would not stay.

Brian Ellison sent down Everest last year to be second a short-head in the mile handicap which opened Tuesday's card, and this year the stable stalwart went one better, landing the £14,000 plus top spot under Dane O'Neill. The Norton trainer had winners also at Haydock and Musselburgh this week.

Tim Easterby is in good form and had a treble on Friday night, with two at Beverley and one at Haydock. Robert Winston partnered the two in Yorkshire in a riding treble, having also won for John Quinn earlier.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Yarmouth: Golden Chance (trained by M Easterby, at Sheriff Hutton; owned by Miss S Brotherton), ridden by Miss S Brotherton.

Haydock: Dr Sharp (T Tate, Tadcaster; The Ivy Partnership), J Edmunds.

Epsom ev: Loyal Tycoon (D Nicholls, Sessay; M A J Hall & Mrs M Hall), L Treadwell (claiming 7lbs allowance); Woody Valentine (M Johnston, Middleham; Favourites Racing), S Chin.

Newbury: Another Bottle (T Tate; J Hanson), D Gibson.

Fri. - Sandown: Melrose Avenue (M Johnston; Sheikh Mohammed), K Dalgleish.

Southwell NH: Benardon (R Guest, Brancepeth; The Macca & Growler Partnership), T McCoy.

Beverley ev: Melalchrist (J Quinn, Settrington; T G S Wood), R Winston; Wonderful Mind (T Easterby, Great Habton; T G & Mrs M E Holdcroft), R Winston; Cryfield (N Tinkler, Langton; Mrs A O'Grady), K Tinkler; Sualda (R Fahey, Musley Bank; J H Tattersall), T Hamilton (3); Miss Eloise (T Easterby; Homebred (Hb) Slatch Farm Stud), T Mullen (7).

Haydock ev: Jimmy Byrne (B Ellison, Norton; K Middleton), S Drowne; Harvest Wonder (T Easterby; Mr & Mrs W J Williams), D Allan.

Sat. - Beverley: Charnock Bates One (T Easterby; Charnock Bates), G Gibbons; Paddywack (D Chapman, Stillington; T S Redman), R Moore (7); Santibiuri Lad (N Wilson, Malton; Mrs K Ridley), T Hamilton (3).

Haydock: Quito (D Chapman; M Hill), T Culhane; Flipando (D Barron, Maunby; Mrs J Hazell), K Darley.

Carlisle ev: Reversionary (M Easterby; A Black & A M Hedley), R Winston; Strawberry Dale (J Bethell, Middleham; M J Dawson ), J Fanning; Hartshead (A Swinbank, Melsonby; B Valentine), D McKeown; Young Mr Grace (T Easterby; N Jackson), T Mullen (7).

Nottingham ev: Rancho Cucamonga (D Barron; Hb, P Savill), K Darley; Mickledor (M Dods, Piercebridge; Hb, D B Stanley.

Sun. - Redcar: Parisian Playboy (J O'Keeffe, Coverham; Playboy Partnership), L Kershaw (5); Lets Roll (C Thornton, Middleham; A Cole & Partners), D McKeown; Pawan (A Stokell, Brompton on Swale; Ms C Stokell), A Stokell; Lucky Judge (A Swinbank; Mrs I Gibson), D Gibson.

Market Rasen NH: Wise Tale (P Niven, Barton le St; B L I Parry), G Lee.

Mon. - Bath: Flying Tackle (M Dods; N Harrison), W Hogg.

Musselburgh: Paddy Mul (W Storey, Muggleswick; Gremlin Racing), J Bramhill; Artistic Style (B Ellison; Mr & Mrs D A Gamble), T Eaves (3).

Ripon ev: Biscar Two (R Whitaker, Scarcroft; Hb, M J O'Dwyer), V Halliday; Alchemist Master (R Whitaker; T L Adams), D McKeown.

Tue. - Newmarket: Everest (B Ellison; I S Sandhu & Partners), D O'Neill.

Pontefract: Prospect Court (J Bethell; J E Lund), R Quinn; Bendarshaan (M Johnston; Mali L Al Basti), K Dalgleish; Hula Bellew (M Dods; Hb, Mrs J Hutchinson & Mrs P A Knox), S Kelly.

Uttoxeter ev NH: Red Nose Lady (M Jefferson, Norton; Mrs M E Dixon), F King (3).

Wed. - Newmarket: Bandari (M Johnston; H Al Maktoum), R Hills.

Catterick: Yoshika (M Johnston; S Buhaleeba), R Ffrench; Willjojo (R Fahey; Yorkshire Lancashire Alliance), R Ffrench