THE Queen will have enjoyed putting the affairs of state to one side when Circle of Fire ran away with the one-mile novice race at Salisbury to demonstrate she has an exciting horse for next season.

Doubtless the style of his success and his abundant stamina, given his blood lines, raises the intriguing question as to whether she will finally realise her equine ambition of owning a Derby winner.

The two-year-old certainly raised that hope.

Too green to himself justice on his Leicester debut, the colt tracked his market rival and fellow Newmarket challenger Tabaretta but once Ryal Moore switched him to the outside a furlong and a half out, the issue was never in doubt.

"He has exciting potential," enthused her racing manager John Warren. "He strode to the line and Ryan was certainly impressed."

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute is renowned for not rushing his young horses and Warren knows with his size and scope he needs time to mature. "Whatever is his next race, it's all about setting him up for next year. He has exciting potential."

Ralph Beckett, away on a horse buying expedition in Germany, missed Juliet Sierra win the course's major race for two-year-old fillies by a fast- diminishing neck from All The Time who came late and fast on the unfavoured stands side.

Rob Hornby had been slightly concerned that being drawn in stall nine towards the outside he would have no cover in what is traditionally a highly competitive affair but he had the perfect target in the Irish-trained runner Funny Honey Money who set a scorching pace, attributing much of her improvement to the fitting of a cross noseband.

Sure there is more to come from Juliet Sierra who holds a couple of top autumnal race entries, he said: "She's very green but very exciting. She can go on to better things. She has always been a natural at home and trained on very well since making her debut at Newmarket. She will get further."

Juliet Sierra was the fourth consecutive winning favourite, following on from Eximious who also demonstrated he is another with a future after coming from nearer last to first in the seven-furlong maiden to mow down her nine rivals.

"She ran well on her debut and it's lovely to see her follow up this afternoon," said trainer Roger Varian, paying a rare visit to the track. "She appreciated the extra furlong and has a very good attitude. The ground is important and good to firm is the key to her."

Oliver Searle rode his first victory for 18 months after being sidelined for 18 months following a hip operation when he guided Crystal Casque to a comfortable victory in the one-mile apprentice handicap - and was then self-critical.

The 21-year-old had ridden the mare three times since getting backing into the saddle, finishing second twice and third once, but thought he should have made the winner's enclosure at least once. "On a couple of times I went too early."

But he seized a gap on the rails to score by three and a half lengths on the mare who he described as consistent and tough. "I got a nice lead and she flew home."