Henry Cecil showed little respect for recent tradition by ending Double Trigger's hattrick ambitions at Doncaster yesterday. He maintained his near invincible record at the St Leger meeting to land his seventh Great North Eastern Doncaster Cup victory with Canon Can. To underline his superiority he then saddled Midnight Line to claim an amazing 11th success for the stable in the May Hill Stakes.

In the last two runnings of the marathon, Double Trigger's accuracy has been at its deadliest. But he badly misfired when fading in the straight to finish fourth of five. He was even forced to relinquish his track record as he trailed in more than seven lengths adrift of Canon Can.

Kieren Fallon tackled the 8 to 13 favourite early in the straight and the Queen Alexandra Stakes winner gradually got on top to score from Persian Punch and 1992 winner Further Flight.

Third in last year's Cesarewich, Canon Can will now launch a second bid under 10st including a 4lb penalty for yesterday's win. As a result he is now Ladbrokes' 7 to 1 favourite (from 14 to 1).

A veterinary examination later revealed that Double Trigger had an abnormally low heart rate. Midnight Line shattered the two-year-old track record over a mile when emulating her dam Midnight Air to win the May Hill Stakes by half a length from Flawless.

She was promoted to 12 to 1 favourite for next year's Oaks and is a 16 to 1 chance for the English 1,000 Guineas after completing a double for Fallon. As a result Fallon stretched his jockeys' championship lead to seven over Frankie Dettori who has yet to score after two days of the meeting.