IT'S been some season for Mark Johnston, and the Middleham trainer has a new star on his hands in the shape of the filly Lumiere, who bravely landed the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket last Saturday.

Her jockey, William Buick, showed a real intent in setting a good pace throughout the six-furlong contest, though both Richard Hannon's Illuminate and William Haggas's Besharah loomed ominously with a furlong to go.

Stamina doubts were attributed to Lumiere following her second to Besharah in the Group 2 Lowther at York in August, but Johnston's filly showed a game attitude and battled all the way to the line to hold on by half a length from Illuminate, with Besharah a further head behind in third.

Buick said: "That was a very good performance as she was there to be shot at. She was always stretching them and when they came to her she quickened again.

"There is every chance she will get the mile if she learns to race and settle properly. She galloped on well after the line."

Johnston said: "We always thought there was no shortage of stamina, but we also know she's very fast and has a tremendous cruising speed. I'm very, very hopeful she can stay a mile."

With those doubts now cast away following a taking success, a tilt at the Qipco 1,000 Guineas now looks a possibility and Paddy Power and William Hill made her their 8-1 co-favourite.

Closer to home, Ripon staged their final meeting of the year last Saturday and Micky Hammond was all smiles after Blue Hussar took the staying handicap under Steve Drowne.

Speaking in the winners' enclosure, he said: "He's not badly handicapped on old form and he enjoyed the cut in the ground today. We might aim him for the November Handicap at Doncaster."

This weekend is a massive one for Flat fans, as the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe takes centre stage in Longchamp and all eyes will be on dual winner Treve, who is bidding to make history.

Also on the card is the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye and it would be fantastic to see Mecca's Angel follow up on her York success for Michael Dods and his team, but it's not hard to feel the drying ground may have hindered her chance.

The drying ground will suit Sole Power. Eddie Lynam's five-time Group One winner is at his absolute best on fast ground, though he showed he can handle slower going when winning the Flying Five at the Curragh on his latest start.

Chris Hayes was in the plate for the first time that day and is excited about being aboard him on Sunday.

"If the weather stays the way it's forecast, he'd really have to have a chance," he said yesterday.

"I'm looking forward to getting the leg over him on fast ground.

"It seems to be going the right way ground-wise. I never got to ride him in his younger days, but he's still had plenty of spark for me.

"The turn of foot he showed on that kind of ground (at the Curragh), it would be mouthwatering thinking of Sunday if it stays dry.

"I've looked at videos of his runs in this race hundreds of times and he has run some good races in defeat on ground that probably didn't suit.

"I've spoken to Johnny Murtagh about the time he rode him and the closest he finished was with Keagan Latham, and he was a shade unlucky on the day.

"If the ground stays the way it is, we'll go there with a fighting chance."