There were 23,000 at Epsom today, every one of them willing Light Shift home in the Vodafone Oaks. And they duly had their wish as the filly resisted a late assault from Peeping Fawn, in the process hoisting Henry Cecil's name back up in lights. It was Cecil's first classic winner for seven years - and his 24th in all.

Scenes of unbridled joy greeted Light Shift's return to the hallowed winner's circle. And Cecil, visibly moved by the reception, was quick to reciprocate the public's reaction. The man whose fortunes slumped after a series of personal and professional reverses waved enthusiastically to the adoring galleries. "It is almost embarassing," he told them. "I really appreciate it, and thank you."

Owned and bred by the Niarchos family, Light Shift escaped from a pocket of scrimmaging at halfway to strike the front on the long run for home. Meanwhile, Cecil's second runner, the favoured Passage Of Time, found the going tougher as her stamina gave out two furlongs from home.

Simultaneously, Peeping Fawn emerged from the pack to close menacingly on Light Shift. "At that point I was very worried," Cecil admitted later. "I didn't want to let the public down." But the Kingmambo filly, ridden with aplomb by Ted Durcan, responded gamely to the challenge. "Nothing was going to pass her today," Durcan said.

Light Shift's merit is difficult to gauge at this early stage of the season. The half-length verdict she posted over Peeping Fawn in no way reflected her superiority over an opponent who had finished third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas five days earlier. The pair are scheduled to clash again in the Irish Oaks next month, when Light Shift can be expected to increase her superiority over the Aidan O'Brien-trained Peeping Fawn.