SARISKA regained her crown as the Queen of York Racecourse with an impressive victory in the totesport.com Middleton Stakes.

Last year’s Musidora Stakes winner, subsequently edged out by Dar Re Mi in the Yorkshire Oaks, returned to Knavesmire and dominated a small, but classy, field in the £100,000 Group 2 contest.

Trainer Michael Bell’s four-year-old, the 10-11 favourite, struck for home early in the one-mile, two-furlong contest and soon amassed a comfortable lead over the chasing Midday and Flying Cloud.

Sariska was even able to idle slightly in the final furlong but jockey Jamie Spencer still had a length and three quarters in hand at the finish.

“With her five pound penalty, Midday has run a stormer,” said Bell. “I think we were just idling a bit in front. I think Jamie had the situation well under control.

“With that penalty, things were in our favour and she won the race like we hoped she would.”

Malton saddler Richard Fahey began his quest for a fifth consecutive top trainer title at York when Johannes took the totepool Flexi Betting Stakes.

The 11-1 shot, ridden by Paul Hanagan, reeled in the speedy Jaconet late on in the five-furlong contest, and kept the Musley Bank-based trainer’s winning bandwagon rolling on. A four-time victor last season, Johannes drew away to win by a length and give York owner David Kilburn a Knavesmire day to remember.

“It’s about time we had a winner here,” Fahey joked following a blank first day of the Dante Festival. “He has come back better than ever and I am really pleased with him.

“It was grand. He will probably end up going back to the Steward’s Cup at Goodwood. He won the consolation race last year and it looks like Lady Luck has looked after him over the winter.”

Fahey and Hanagan didn't have to wait too long before doubling their tally when Rose Blossom (8-1) stretched away to win the five- furlong EBF Conditions Stakes – leaving Tim Easterby’s Midnight Martini trailing in her wake.

Fahey added: “I’m mad about her but she’s like chalk and cheese. She’s so relaxed at home but, at the races, sometimes she just loses the plot a bit. She can really shift.”

The Listed Hambleton Stakes was won by Fareer (11-2), who bravely resisted strong challenges from both Rainbow Peak (7-2 jt-fav) and Balcarce Nov (13-2) to record a pillar-to-post victory for trainer Ed Dunlop and jockey Richard Hills by a head.