SIR Alex Ferguson can feature in the Royal Ascot spotlight tomorrow when his colours will be carried by Rock Of Gibraltar on the opening leg of the prestigious meeting, which this year has been extended to five days for the first time.

The Manchester United supremo has already enjoyed some wonderful moments with his top-class colt and tomorrow's £250,000 St James's Palace Stakes promises to be another.

A top-notch juvenile last year, when his victories included the Gimcrack Stakes at York, Rock Of Gibraltar has scaled fresh new heights this season, completing the English-Irish 2,000 Guineas double.

A superb horse, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt will be very hard to beat, despite the prescence of his stablemate Landseer, winner of the French 2,000 Guineas, who will be partnered by Johnny Murtagh.

With Mick Kinane, O'Brien's number one jockey, pulling-on the Ferguson colours aboard Rock Of Gibraltar, he looks the one to side with in what promises to be a fascinating contest.

Kyllachy, hugely impressive winner of all his three races this season, can extend his unbeaten record tomorrow.

Trained by Henry Candy, Kyllachy lines-up for the Group Two King's Stand Stakes and promises to take the world of beating in the hands of Jamie Spencer.

On his latest start, in the Temple Stakes at Sandown, the four-year-old showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in a style that smacked of sheer class.

He can follow-up tomorrow, probably at the main expense of Jessica's Dream, who will relish the easy ground.

Night Sight has scored on his last two outings at Doncaster, each time carrying this column's nap selection. It might be tempting fate to burden him yet again in tomorrow's Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap, but I remain convinced that we have yet to see the best of Michael Chapman's talented gelding, who is duly awarded the number one vote for a third time.

A horse who loves to come late off a fast pace, Night Sight should have the race run to suit him. Whether he is good enough to cope with what is his toughest task to date remains to be seen, but I, for one, expect him to produce a bold show.

Frankie Deterri and the Godolhping team can draw first blood at the meeting in the Queen Anne Stakes, Royal Ascot's traditional curtain-raiser, with Best of The Bests, who bounced back to form last month.

O'Brien has won the Coventry Stakes three times in the last five years, and Spartacus is strongly fancied to add to his tally tomorrow, while David Nicholls' Fire Up The Band can not be left out of the reckoning in the Balmoral Handicap after his good third to Artie in Saturday's William Hill Trophy at York.

At Thirsk, a note should be made of Al Azhar in the Willett And Ross Insurance Handicap.

Michael Dods' gelding finished second to Night Sight at Doncaster last time after finding himself unsuited by the muddling early gallop. He deserves to find compensation.

Tim Easterby has several fancied runners at the meeting, including Kentucky Blue (2-50) and Parting Shot (6-10).

Tomorrow's tips:

ROYAL ASCOT

2.30 Best of The Bests

3.05 Kyllachy

3.45 Rock of Gibraltar

4.20 Spartacus

4.55 Night Sight (NAP)

5.30 Fire Up The Band

THIRSK

2.15 Clocking Off

2.50 Kentucky Blue

3.25 Naahy

4.00 In The Green

4.35 Al Azhar

5.10 Dakota Sioux

5.40 Purring

6.10 Parting Shot

Updated: 12:19 Monday, June 17, 2002