SHERIFF HUTTON's Kevin Darley pulled off a sensational win at York on board Italian raider Super Tassa.

The champion jockey landed the Group One Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks on Knavesmire for Pisa-based trainer trainer Valfredo Valiani.

The 25/1 shot was unleashed by Darley on the run in and took up the running from the well-backed 2/1 favourite Sacred Song a furlong out.

Darley kept his foot on the pedal all the way to the winning post to win by a length with Rockerlong (20/1) back in third place.

It was the first time Valiani, a former assistant to Luca Cumani, had run a horse in this country.

He said "I've been waiting that long to have a runner here so it's a great occasion. I don't know why I waited - It looks so easy now."

It is thought that Super Tassa is the first Italian-trained horse to win in this country since Marguerita Vernault claimed the Champions Stakes in 1960.

Michael Kinane landed the £185,000 Tote Ebor Handicap for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien on 16/1 shot Mediterranean.

The O'Brien/Kinane partnership made it a memorable double when sweeping to victory in the Gimcrack Stakes with Rock of Gibraltar (11/4).

The horse is part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, a regular visitor to York Races.

He apparently stopped the Manchester United coach heading to Blackburn Rovers for last night's Premiership match to watch the race on television.

He must have liked what he saw as Kinane made most of the running on the stand rail and surged away from the rest to win by three lengths from Ho Choi (33/1).

The victory means that as part-owner of the Gimcrack winner Sir Alex may well present the famous Grimcrack speech.

Updated: 10:57 Thursday, August 23, 2001