And he sent out Salim Toto to claim the Stanley Racing Great Metropolitan Stakes at Epsom on Wednesday.

The 6-1 chance was kicked into a clear advantage by Richard Hughes with half a mile to run and was won totally unchallenged by eight lengths from 4-1 favourite Dr Cool.

‘‘She came to me when Julian Smyth-Osborne gave up training and when she arrived from the owners, with whom she had spent the winter, I have to say she looked very well,’’ reported Morrison.

‘‘She can be a bit highly-strung and there was no doubt looking at her form that she settled best when she was out in front.

‘‘All credit to the track, who have produced excellent ground with no jar in very dry conditions hopefully it will be the same at Sandown!’’

Morrison has expressed doubts over the ground for Frenchman’s Creek but was unable to hide the fact that he expects a bold showing.

‘‘I rode him myself this morning and he is in really good shape,’’ said the trainer.

‘‘I am going up to Perth tomorrow to run Couloir and ‘‘Frenchie’s’’ half-brother, Thieves’ Glen, but I will walk the track at Sandown on Saturday morning to check before giving him the green light for sure.

‘‘I’ve no regrets about missing the National he could easily have come down in the melee at the first and galloped round for four and a half miles, having a hard race with no benefit to anybody.’’

Seignosse was all the rage in the ring before taking the five-furlong Stanley Racing Handicap at 11-10.

The son of College Chapel looks a step ahead of the handicapper at the moment and won cosily by a length and a half.

‘‘The handicapper said he had 6lb in hand and that looked about right to me,’’ said trainer Ian Balding.

‘‘Everything was in his favour today and I hope he’ll keep on progressing.’’

Steve Carson, the rider of runner-up Absolute Fantasy, was on the receiving end of a two-day ban (May 3 & 6) for irresponsible riding of a minor nature when he was found to have interfered with third-placed Madrasee close home.

Swing Wing continued the fine start to the season of his trainer Paul Cole when taking the first race of 2002.

The Martyn Arbib-owned son of In The Wings, the 2-1 joint-favourite, led over a furlong out and scored by a length from Mine Host in the Stanley Racing Blue Riband Trial Stakes.

But whether Swing Wing will return to Epsom for a tilt at the Vodafone Derby in June remains to be seen, with the trainer erring on the side of caution.

‘‘I didn’t know if he would act on the track but they normally provide decent ground here so it was worth having a go,’’ Cole said.

‘‘I don’t know whether he is really a Derby horse, he might be more of an Italian Derby type but Mr Arbib might want to have a runner in the big one so we’ll have to see.’’

Peter Harris’ charge was a first winner at Epsom for Irishman Eddie Ahern, who was seen to good effect on the 10-1 winner, taking the advantage with more than two furlongs to run and quickly putting the result beyond doubt.