JOCKEY Silvestre de Sousa had every reason to produce a wider smile than usual when he entered the winner's enclosure on Morando following the Property Raceday Targets £3M Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot last Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

For this was the three-times champion's first success since returning from the injury he sustained in a fall at Chelmsford in August.

Morando, the 2/1 favourite trained by Andrew Balding, won the 12-furlong contest in emphatic style, finishing six lengths ahead of runner-up Sextant.

"It is good to be back with a winner," said De Sousa, who had a couple of unplaced rides at the Berkshire track on Friday.

"It is a mental thing as much as a physical thing when you are injured – and fair play to Sir Peter O'Sullevan House and the people there, who have helped with the rehabilitation. They have great facilities and I have had a lot of support from friends."

Newmarket trainer Roger Varian reached up his 100th winner of the season when Cape Byron (13/8fav) powered home in the John Guest Bengough Stakes in the hands of Andrea Atzeni.

De Sousa went on to complete a double thanks to the Ralph Beckett-trained Di Fede (7/4fav) in the Child Bereavement UK British EBF Stakes, finishing three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of 16/1 chance Miss Celestial.

Cape Byron clearly loves the Ascot track having won the Victoria Cup and Wokingham Stakes here last season.

On Saturday, the five-year-old had two lengths to spare over Donjuan Triumphant, with Keystroke third, a neck further down.

Atzeni, said: "He loved that ground. He has obviously won on the soft ground before, but that is a different type of ground.

"It is dead and tacky, and we were not sure if he would go on it. But we thought if he'd act on it, he would have a very good chance, as he had been working well at home."

Trainer Michael Dods had a profitable trip down from County Durham by completing a first-and-last race double with Dakota Gold (15/8fav), ridden by Connor Beasley, in the UK Hi-Fi Show Live Rous Stakes and 6/1 chance Pendleton, the mount of Callum Rodriguez, in the McGee Group Handicap.

In the latter, runner-up Came From The Dark (9/2), was the only favourite to be beaten at the meeting, and that was by just a neck.

Ascot's next meeting is QIPCO Champions Day a week on Saturday, October 19.

One of the most prestigious race meetings in Europe, the prize money across the six-race card is an eye-catching £4.2m. The first five races are end-of-season championships across various distances and disciplines.

The King Edward VII and Winning Post Enclosures are now sold out, but tickets for the Queen Anne Enclosure are still available.