Franki Dettori wins the big bank holiday race at Warwick Racecourse

Dettori had four rides during the afternoon, all for his retaining owner Sheikh Mohammed, and he brought Colonial home clear of Forjatt and Al Aasifh to land the prize.

Neil Callan put up a pound overweight on the runner-up, but it made no difference as Dettori and Colonial made all the running. They were easing down at the end for a comfortable success.

The runners went straight to the starting gate to save wear to the track ahead of the opening TurfTV Handicap and Paradise Spectre, who was backed from 7-1 to 5-1 favourite, landed the six furlong sprint for Middleham trainer Elaine Burke in the hands of useful apprentice Harry Bentley.

Hopes of a double for Mrs Burke in the second, the Avon Toys Leamington Nursery, were dashed when her Baltic Fizz was soundly beaten by 14-1 shot Stepper Point, who defied a 5lbs rise in the weights for his win at Goodwood last time out, leading at the two furlong marker and coming home five lengths clear under George Baker.

Farraaj, who comes from a winning family, looked to have a good chance of taking the first division of the British Stallions Studs Supporting British Racing E B F Maiden Stakes.

Sent off the 13-8 favourite, Farraaj was too good for his 13 rivals and, despite edging right inside the last furlong, ran on well under Neil Callan to beat She Spirit Di Su and the Dettori-ridden Surfer.

In the second division, Pickled Pelican, ridden by Liam Jones for Newmarket trainer William Haggis, foiled a gamble on Strictly Silver.

The runner-up, who cost 40,000gns and was unplaced on his debut at York, had been backed down from 10-1 to 6-1 in the morning and shortened even further on course, going off at 11-2.

Those who had joined in the gamble never looked like collecting, as the more experienced Pickled Pelican made all the running to score by two and a quarter lengths, with Strictly Silver only grabbing second place near the line.

The field for the longest race of the day, the Tom Stacey 49th Birthday Handicap, was reduced to eleven when Tiger Tess was withdrawn after being unruly at the start. Mina’s Boy proved another winning favourite here, but it was a close run thing as Ed Dunlop’s charge had just a nose to spare over Dawn Gold after jockey Royston French had eased down in the final furlong, only getting back in front at the post.

Another horse to play up was Goldstorm in the following maiden, unseating Micky Fenton on the way to the seven furlong start.

When the race got underway, Backstreet Fighter sprang a 66-1 surprise, leading near the finish to beat Wadha by a neck and deny Dettori and his followers a double.

At the end of a long day, 9-2 shot Significant Move was another winning favourite in the eighth and final race, the Stratford Handicap over one mile and three furlongs,