Star stakes a Dun deal

John Dunlop's name is becoming synonymous with the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Star Stakes and the Arundel maestro saddled his fourth winner of the Listed event in six years as Mudaaraah returned to form at Sandown.The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned filly had bit the dust at Newmarket and proved friendless in the betting ring when opening at 11-2 here. Richard Hills' mount drifted out to 7-1, but that failed to affect her performance as she swooped down the outside of a scrimmaging field to pick up the winning thread by half a length.Dunlop said: "She is a nice filly and won well first time out at Folkestone in quite a nice race. We then took her to Newmarket where she disappointed, but scoped dirty afterwards and one would assume that is why she ran badly."The trainer added: "It didn't take her long to get over that and I am delighted with her today. I would think we will keep her to this level or Group Three over seven furlongs or a mile."Ryan Moore completed a double for Dunlop with a clear-cut victory aboard 6-4 favourite King Of Wands in the Teddington Handicap, having initiated a brace of his own in the previous Wisecall Claims Assistance Handicap.The champion jockey gave a taster of what may be to come in this weekend's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes by donning the Ballymacoll Stud colours of the well-fancied Conduit to forge clear aboard Sir Michael Stoute's 8-11 favourite Dancourt.Moore commented: "He was very babyish as a two-year-old, but has improved steadily with each run this year. That wasn't the greatest race for the class but he has done it readily and I hope he can keep on improving."Ed McMahon broke his Sandown duck in style as Final Answer responded to every question to blitz his rivals in the fast-and-furious EBF Maiden Stakes.Thirteen previous runners have failed where Final Answer succeeded, with the newcomer attracting plenty of market support to start at 7-2 and tidily make all for a length-and-a-quarter success.McMahon said: "That is my first winner here after hitting the crossbar several times, and it is nice to get off the mark. We have always thought a lot of Final Answer at home. He knew his job and did it well. We will start looking for some nice entries for him now, and I think he will improve for the run too."