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Laugh A Minute shed his maiden tag in the Weatherbys Racing Bank £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster.

Roger Varian's juvenile had been placed on each of his three previous appearances, most recently finishing third behind Dream Today - who runs in Saturday's Champagne Stakes - in last month's Convivial Maiden at York.

Laugh A Minute was a 12-1 shot for this 22-runner contest and powered home on the far side of the track under Andrea Atzeni to score a shade comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Danzan was a clear second ahead of Alba Power in third. Great Prospector, the 7-2 favourite, was fourth.

Atzeni said: "We've always liked him and he's always worked like a good horse.

"Last time he probably didn't quite stay seven furlongs and he was caught wide all the way around.

"He's a horse with a real good turn of foot. He travelled beautifully through the race and picked up well. He'll be a better three-year-old and he has a lot of speed."

Varian's pupil assistant Felix Lepeudry said: "He needed his previous runs and we stepped back in trip as Roger thought he didn't get home last time.

"The orders were to sit at the back and come very patiently, which Andrea did really well.

"There were some very good horses in the race, some rated over 100 but also some lower-rated horses, so we'll see how the form comes out of it.

"He's shown enough at home to be very confident that he'll carry on with high targets."

Varian, Atzeni and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid team up with leading hope Defoe in Saturday's William Hill St Leger.

"A couple of showers tonight would be great but still I think the ground is very good for him. Doncaster is Andrea and Roger's place, that is for sure," Lepeudry added.

Atzeni completed a quickfire double aboard Euginio in the crownhotel-bawtry.com Handicap.

Just four runners went to post, but each of them were in there pitching in the final furlong. the Richard Hannon-trained Euginio (11-4) quickened well to grab the lead and had enough in reserve to hold the late charge of Another Eclipse by a neck. Al Neksh and Dark Red were close up in third and fourth respectively.

Hannon said: "He's been a slow horse to come to hand. He's in the Cambridgeshire and I think next year could be his year.

"I've always thought he was a lovely, big, strong horse. I struggle to see when he's fit because he carries a lot of weight all the time. He takes his time to get going, so this track suits him, but he's really next year's horse.

"He was unlucky last time and he's barely run a bad race all year. I'm delighted."

Ellthea outclassed her rivals in the EBF British Stallion Studs "Carrie Red" Fillies' Nursery.

Karl Burke's juvenile looked an exciting prospect after winning on her second start at Carlisle, but having since come up short at Listed and Group Three level, she was switched to handicap company for her latest assignment.

The 8-1 shot travelled smoothly under apprentice Clifford Lee and drew clear in impressive fashion in the final furlong to register a three-and-three-quarter-length success.

Clubbable, the 7-4 favourite, was under pressure from an early stage, but boxed on to fill the runner-up spot.

Lee said: "She gave me everything. Her last couple of runs were a bit disappointing, but she kept coming in season. She is back to her normal self there and has won nicely."

Burke, who also won the May Hill with Laurens, said: "She's been in season basically all year, at home and at the races, and consequently wasn't running her race.

"The girl who looks after her told me as soon as I got her today that this is the first time since Carlisle she's not been in season and obviously that's made the difference.

"We've always thought she was good. That was very impressive and there's no reason she won't train on. There's a Listed race in Ireland for her we'll go for next and if that goes well we could take her back to France."

Buccaneers Vault was a clear-cut winner of the DFS Silk Series Lady Riders' Handicap.

The six-furlong contest opened day two of the St Leger Festival on Town Moor, with a mixture of amateur and female riders doing battle over the straight six furlongs.

The Paul Midgley-trained Buccaneers Vault was a 9-1 chance in the hands of Georgia Cox and was waited with while stablemate Related set the pace.

Cox's mount quickened up smartly to take the lead inside the final two furlongs and though 4-1 favourite Kenny The Captain got rolling late, Buccaneers Vault held him at bay by a length.

"He was very straightforward to ride and took me into the race really well," said the winning jockey.

"Mr Midgley was very confident about his chances and actually told me he'd win, so full credit to him.

"I was wary there was a lot of pace in the race and he (Midgley) told me just to sit where the horse was happy.

"He was a bit fresh out of the stalls and we met a little bit of trouble, but it didn't seem to bother him."

Midgley, based at Westow near York, said: "It's nice to have a winner this week, it's a big week.

"It was a good pot and he's just about paid for himself. We got him from Newmarket sales from Michael Dods.

"He (Buccaneers Vault) is a lovely person and a very straightforward ride. A race like this probably suits him as there was plenty of speed on slow ground and they just came back to him. All he does is plug away.

"He's been pretty consistent all year. The only thing he hasn't done is win, but he's gone and won well today, which is great."

What A Home sent favourite-backers home happy after landing the concluding Breeders' Series EBF Fillies' Handicap.

The William Haggas-trained filly had opened her account at the third attempt in a Chester maiden in late July and was even-money to follow up from an opening mark of 80.

With Paul Hanagan doing the steering, What A Home passed the post a length and a half clear of Pacharana, with Stoney Broke third.