HISTORY was made by Middleham at the Curragh last Sunday when Attraction became the first filly ever to land both the 1,000 Guineas and its Irish equivalent.

Mark Johnston's stable star, ridden by Kevin Darley, was as brave as could be wanted in another front-running display.

She even had some extra to be able to draw clear of Alexander Goldrun when the runner-up came up to her quarters and, in the end, the Duke of Roxburghe's homebred unbeaten Efisio filly won by a good length.

Patrick Haslam and wife Ann are thrilled at present as their son, Ben, 19, has won one of just 12 places on an assisted student scheme, Darley Stud Flying Start, organised by Sheikh Mohammed.

Thousands of young people applied worldwide and Ben will get the chance to learn all sides of the racing industry in England, Ireland, Australia, the United States and Dubai.

He told Racing Week that he did not know which aspect of racing to enter, and this excellent chance would give him all the ammunition to make a choice.

Ben has been riding out for the Haslam team since he was 13 and, after A-levels last year, has been in Newmarket and South Africa working with Joey Ramsden (son of Jack Ramsden, Lynda's husband).

Until he starts in the new scheme, he is assisting his father with the 65 horses in his care, including collecting the award won by Patrick as the Jumping Stable of the Year at Sandown recently.

Johnston sent Darasim over to Baden-Baden, Germany, at the weekend and the stalwart won the Group 3 Betty Barclay-Rennen on Saturday under a fine Joe Fanning ride, another front-running success.

The winner now heads to the Ascot Gold Cup and is owned by Swiss businessman Markus Graf, for whom the trainer had another young winner in the shape of Royal Island last Thursday.

Also on the scorecard in Baden-Baden were two young people from Middleham, Kelly Harrison, the 19-year-old daughter of former trainer Alan Harrison and his wife Gill, and Scott Dobson, Karl Burke's amateur.

The youngsters were respectively second and third in the amateurs' invitation race, representing the UK as female and male rider from our country in the Fegentri World Cup of Nations event.

Kelly, who now works for David Nicholls at Sessay, partnered Comedy, trained by H van Sanelsa and Scott was on Ciano, the charge of O W Seiler. For the record, the race was won by Tania Knuchel of Sweden, on Batu Khan.

The Middleham trainers' tips list also got off to a superb start on Saturday when Mine won the Victoria Cup under Richard Quinn at Ascot.

James Bethell, head of the town's Trainers' Association, had named this as his choice to follow and it was fitting that he was the first to win with his tip.

The winner goes now for the Royal Hunt Cup and to try to recapture the Bunbury Cup he netted two years back.

ALL THE WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Newcastle: Royal Island (trained by M Johnston, at Middleham; owned by M Graff), ridden by K Dalgleish; What's Up Doc (M Johnston; Homebred (Hb), J J Monaghan), K Dalgleish; Ego Trip (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Hb, K Hodgson & Mrs J Hodgson), D Gibson.

Wetherby NH: Giuliani (H Johnson, Crook; J A McAleese), T Dobbin; Lik Wood Power (R Guest, Brancepeth; Bache Silk), H Oliver; Archias (R Guest; G & J Racing), P Griffiths (claiming 7lbs); Wildfield Rufo (K Walton, Middleham; Mrs C Holroyd), R McGrath; Ramblees Holly (S Wood, Nawton; Hb, permit holder), Mr T J Malone (3).

Doncaster ev: Indibraun (P Haslam, Middleham; D Browne), G Faulkner; Neon Blue (R Whitaker, Scarcroft; Country Lane Partnership), M Hills; Mystic Man (K Ryan, Hambleton; R J H Ltd), N Callan; Mis Chicaf (J Wainwright, Kennythorpe; A D Copley), R Winston.

Kelso NH ev: Spectrometer (R Guest; Concertina Racing), H Oliver.

Friday. - Ayr: Arcalis (H Johnson; A & G Wylie), R Winston; Downland (N Tinkler, Langton; A Graham), K Darley.

Haydock: Bridgewater Boys (K Ryan; Bishopthorpe Racing), N Callan.

Saturday. - Baden-Baden, Germany: Darasim (M Johnston; M Graf), J Fanning.

Haydock: Racoon (D Barron, Maunby; Hb, P D Savill), K Darley.

Ayr: She's Our Lass (D Carroll, Warthill; We-Know Partnership), R Fitzpatrick.

Ascot: Mine (J Bethell, Middleham; M J Dawson), R Quinn.

Sunday. - Curragh, Ireland: Attraction (M Johnston; Hb, Duke of Roxburghe), K Darley.

Southwell NH: Weaver George (W Storey, Muggleswick; Regent Decorators Ltd), G Lee; Gay Oscar (K Walton; Percy Vere Partnership), R McGrath.

Monday. - Beverley banded H racing: Sennen Cove (R Bastiman., Cowthorpe; Border Rail & Plant Ltd), R Ffrench; Shamwari (I McInnes, Leavening; Ivy House Racing), R Ffrench; Life Is Beautiful (B Tinning, Thornton-le-Clay; trainer & wife), R Winston; Roman The Pink (T Easterby, Great Habton; Middleham Park Racing II), P M Quinn; Molotov (I McInnes; Ivy House Racing), R Ffrench.

Carlisle: Carte Royal (M Johnston; Mr & Mrs Heywood & Mr & Mrs Bovingdon), S Chin; Feu Duty (T Etherington, Norton; Miss M Greenwood, A Watson, K Hart), J Fanning; Zawrak (I McInnes; New Century Windows Ltd), N Gemelova (3).

Leicester: Nufoos (M Johnston; Hamdan Al Maktoum), R Hills.

Thirsk ev: Bourgeois (T Easterby; C H Stevens), R Winston; Atlantic Quest (G Harker, Wensley; A Polignone), P Mulrennan (5); XX, Acomb (M Easterby; ), K Darley.

Windsor ev: Celtic Mill (D Barker, Scorton; Hb, P Asquith), L Enstone.