Cool Quinn answers his critics with perfect ride.

Byline: By Doug Moscrop

Give credit where it's due and, though Richard Quinn has had more than his fair share of criticism in the past, he rode Millenary to perfection in yesterday's GNER Doncaster Cup.

For me, it was one of the rides of the season as he coaxed the eight-year-old home ahead of Sergeant Cecil, with Kasthari, who dead-heated with Millenary last year, running a pleasing race in third.

Ice-cool Quinn was content to allow the eight-year-old to enjoy the scenery for most of the journey, sitting well off the pace as High Action did the donkey work.

No sooner had Kasthari gone for glory when he was passed by Sergeant Cecil. All the time, Millenary was creeping ever closer without Quinn moving a muscle and, when he finally popped the question, it was a flick of the wrists and nothing more to encourage the veteran to get his head in front 50 yards from the line.

"He rode an absolutely brilliant race," said John Dunlop. "I told Richard to be even more patient than he was at York because he had another quarter of a mile to travel and he couldn't have ridden him better."

Quinn said: "He is a classy horse and his turn of foot sets him apart against these stayers.

"He likes to relax and warm up in his races and it was a proper test of stamina."

Paul Hanagan celebrated his birthday with a win on Anna Pavlova in the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons Nursery, but then the stewards tried to spoil the party by giving him a one-day ban for careless riding.

After Richard Fahey's progressive filly had defied a 6lb penalty for landing the Blaydon Race Nursery at Newcastle on Bank Holiday Monday, Hanagan, 25, was taken to task by officials for failing to take steps to prevent his mount from interfering with Global Genius and Nihal.

Ifraaj fought back after being headed by Sleeping Indian to snatch a short-head verdict in the GNER Park Stakes

Eddie Ahern was given a two-day suspension for careless riding on Suzy Bliss in the May Hill Stakes.

The race was won by Nasheej who finally brought to an end a losing run at Doncaster for Richard Hannon.