INTISAAB won the Coral Sprint Trophy for local trainer David O'Meara as the curtain came down on the flat season at York.

Apprentice jockey Shelley Birkett steered the five year old to victory and an offshore energy worker from Grimsby celebrated his biggest pay out, £62,250, as a racing owner.

Gleese The Devil underlined Richard Fahey's status as York's top trainer by winning the Coral Stayers Stakes before Novelty Seeker, trained by Mick Easterby at Sheriff Hutton, took the final race of the afternoon at odds of 20/1.

It was a wonderful way to sign off at the end of a summer packed with so many great memories.

The weather, which had been grey and dull just a day earlier, was magnificent and, with many taking advantage of football's international break to go racing, the Knavesmire was buzzing.

Ladies wearing sunglasses and summer dresses rubbed shoulders with others in winter coats and boots. The only umbrellas in sight were those above the bookmakers' tills and the band of the Coldstream Guards played in the winners enclosure as the punters headed for the gates.

O'Meara was not in attendance due to Mondialiste's engagement in the USA but Birkett took the accolades in his absence.

It is now 18 months since the 22-year-old quit her mother's yard in Newmarket to move to Upper Helmsley.

In that time, she has formed a real bond with Intisaab who she has effectively 'hijacked' from his previous rider Daniel Tudhope.

"I got the ride by chance," she recalled. "It was a busy Saturday (in May) and I rode him at Ascot. He ran really well and finished second and I have kept the ride ever since!

"I really enjoy working for David. I have been with him a year and a half and it's a brilliant yard and a good place to be," she added.

Owner Stuart Graham, who lives in Grimsby, joked that he might be tempted to leave his job soon if Intisaab keeps on progressing.

He was also full of praise for Birkett who has finished in the first two with the five year old on the last eight outings.

"I work offshore in the Shetlands," he said. "I have to fly there and back regularly and I am supposed to be back on Monday morning.

"But this might be my last trip. I might send them a note saying I will give it a miss from now on!

"People are critical of every jockey when they lose them money but, apart from the fact that Dave is magic trainer, Shelley is the reason why this horse has won," he said. "He was rated 78 at Ascot when Shelley initially got the ride and since then he has gone up to 100. All but two of those times, Shelley has been on board. She now rides him out at home too so it is a match made in heaven."

Fahey, meanwhile, had secured the 'Charles Clinkard Trophy' for York's champion trainer prior to Saturday's first race.

Gleese The Devil took his winning tally to nine and followed his earlier successes this season with Vona, Mayfair Lady, Mr Lupton, Marie of Lyon, Home Cummins, The Wagon Wheel, Queen Kindly and Kruger Park.

"It's hard to get a winner here so it's nice to rubberstamp the award," he said. "I will leave it to my other half to find somewhere to put the trophy but I will make sure the dog can't knock it over!"

Andrea Atzeni, who clocked up seven winners at York this summer including Postponed in the Juddmonte International, lifted the title of top jockey.

Only Tom Eaves or Paul Mulrennan had a chance of stealing the crown on Saturday and Eaves struck an early blow when steering Kevin Ryan's Weekend Offender to victory in the Coral Stakes.

The three year old had finished fourth over the same course and distance last month and trainer Ryan said: "He's a good horse and he is starting to mature now. He will be a lovely 10 furlong horse next year so we might look at the Magnet (John Smith's) Cup. "

The 11-2 shot Autocratic, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, won the second race of the afternoon, The Download The Coral App Stakes.

Jockey Ted Durcan, who held off late pressure from Godolphin favourite Great Order to win by a length, said: "He is a horse that Sir Michael has always liked a lot but he is a massive horse and he has had a few little growing issues.

"Maybe he went a little bit weak but now he is starting to strengthen up and hopefully he is going to be a good horse next year."

Sir Dancealot danced to victory in the listed coral.co.uk Rockingham Stakes.

Favourite Perfect Angel could only finish third behind Dream of Dreams.

Jockey Shane Kelly said: "We didn't have a great draw so I went left out of the gate. To be fair, he was always going to win. He is a good horse."

Gulliver, ridden by James Doyle, won the coral.co.uk EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes.

See you in seven months, York races.