They remain among the most recognisable of racing colours, even if their magic has long since waned. Yesterday, however, the blues and greens forever associated with the magnetic figure of Robert Sangster were back in the kind of winner's enclosure he loved to inhabit.

Sangster died four years ago. He would have been 72 tomorrow and doubtless savouring plans for a potential new star in his stable. For City Leader, an imposing grey by Fasliyev, won the Goodwood listed race long known as the final Derby trial with enough authority to indicate there is far more to come from him.

Not that he shook up the bewildered Vodafone Derby betting market. No sooner had bookmakers begun to circulate quotes of 25-1 than Brian Meehan, the trainer, completed his debrief with Jamie Spencer, the winning jockey, and ruled him out.

Spencer felt he had hit the front too soon in the David Wilson Homes Stakes and should have won more comfortably than the eventual three-quarters of a length. But he also expressed doubts about the suitability of this horse for Epsom's gradients. “We'll have plenty of fun later in the summer,” he promised.

Meehan concurred. Reflecting on a race Goodwood has deliberately withdrawn from the acknowledged classic rehearsals, he said: “I know this is an old trial but it's never been a great trial. It's a little close to Epsom and I wouldn't want to rush with him. Anyway, the owners aren't exactly short of Derby winners.”

In some ways, this is a shame. Sangster won the Epsom classic with The Minstrel and Golden Fleece, both trained by Vincent O'Brien, who will invoke plenty of misty-eyed reminiscing when he appears as guest of honour at this year's race.

There was, however, no argument from Sangster's son, Ben, who was present yesterday. He can instead anticipate a big day at Royal Ascot with what is one of 17 horses Meehan now trains for the family at the Manton estate bought by Robert Sangster in 1986. “We'll go for the King Edward VII at Ascot and there are good races to be won with him through the summer,” Meehan said. “We were a bit cautious running him over only a mile in the Craven but we always thought he would want further in time.”

Whistledownwind, the 11-8 favourite, faded into fourth but Paul Roy, his owner, at least had something to celebrate yesterday. The chairman of the British Horseracing Authority announced significant increases in prize-money for the second half of the year. The central funding of each fixture will rise by 20 per cent and the minimum value of listed races like yesterday's will now be £40,000.

Sixties Icon, Roy's classic winner, runs at Goodwood today under Frankie Dettori, who can also look forward to partnering Red Rocks for Meehan in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday. However, Dettori's weekend lost its most auspicious ride yesterday when Godolphin scratched Ibn Khaldun from the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas. He could now head to the Derby instead.

Dettori, who has had barely 50 rides this season, was aboard another beaten favourite - Rosaleen for Meehan - in the Height of Fashion Stakes, once a respected Oaks trial. In this instance, it might actually have been so.

John Gosden, Meehan's predecessor at Manton, has an enviable team of horses in his new base at Newmarket and Michita emerged as a plausible classic contender after trouncing eight rivals by four-and-a-half lengths.

Michita's temperament seemed in doubt prior to her previous run at Newbury but Gosden said: “She was much better today. This filly will go on any ground and stay a mile and a half. There is more than two weeks to the Oaks and the intention is to run.” Stan James offered the sharpest reaction, cutting Michita to 12-1.