I may have been quick to knock the elegance off recent St Legers but I am quite happy to hold my hands up and admit that last Saturday’s showpiece was a spectacular event, and I’m sure the result proved extremely popular considering a certain L. Dettori did the steering, and a good job he did too.

The chestnut, Conduit, who provided Sir Michael Stoute with his elusive victory in the world’s oldest Classic was a handicap winner on Derby day at Epsom and had gradually improved through the rankings to reach his pinnacle by taking the 1m 6f showpiece on Town Moor. Not before a few hairy moments running up the straight though!

The jubilant scenes in the winner’s enclosure after the race were something that would put a smile on the face of even the most cynical racegoer (and that includes my granddad who still believes racing should be the same as it was in the 1930s).

Proof that summer was in its extreme latter stages was confirmed last week when Britain’s final flat turf evening meeting of the term was staged at Bath on a typically rain-sodden tea-time fixture.

Purists now have Dunstall Park, otherwise known as Wolverhampton, and Kempton to keep them entertained during the twilight hours.

They say time flies when you are enjoying yourself. So I assume I’ve quite enjoyed the 2008 flat season as it seems to have whizzed past almost as quick as Oasis Dream did in the 2003 July Cup.

I don’t want to dwell too much on the tragic events involving Mick Channon last week, but thought it was worth giving a mention to the stable staff at the yard that have to carry on pretty much, business as usual.

A racehorse trainer is undoubtedly the most important person in a racing yard, it is he (or she) who oversees each horse’s individual training pattern and maps out potential race-winning opportunities. And while it is extremely fair to say the winning is down to the handler, in most yards there is a very important group of backstage staff who are indispensable parts of an ever running cog.