SALUTE THE DON yesterday turned the tables on stablemate STARDOM, holding off the closer for a three-quarter length win in the 2000 Guineas after outbattling 9-1 outsider STRONG AVEENU, who had taken over from EYE OF THE TIGER early in the stretch run.

Tracking EYE OF THE TIGER and STRONG AVEENU, who missed the break in his first race fitted with blinkers but had sliced through the pack to go second at the five pole, rail-running SALUTE THE DON was always handily placed to have a go at the leaders, though he himself had stumbled at the start.

Eager to steal the race from in front with EYE OF THE TIGER, the least experienced runner in the line-up with only two runs under his girth, Robert Halledeen pushed the speedy colt into a half-mile split of 45.4 and an unsustainable 1:11.2 for six furlongs, which STRONG AVEENU inherited a furlong and a half out.