Since Tuesday the racing world has fixed its gaze on the region. Peter Barron looks back at a spectacular week of sport, glamour and glitz on the Knavesmire

STAR OF THE WEEK

IT was a week full of stars: AZAMOUR showing tremendous courage to come home in the Prince of Wales Stakes; WESTERNER coasting to victory in the Gold Cup under a cheekily-confident ride by Olivier Peslier; and PROCLAMATION showing a scintillating burst which took him clear of Camacho in the Jersey Stakes.

But the star of the week accolade has to go to the outstanding SHAMARDAL who pulverised the field in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day.

It was a bitter-sweet moment for the north because the bay colt was a champion two-year-old for Mark Johnston when trained at Middleham a year ago before being switched to the Godolphin team.

But the winner of the French 2,000 Guineas and French Derby made mincemeat out of the opposition under Kerrin McEvoy.

The victory sets up the prospect of one of the most mouth-watering showdowns in recent times, with Shamardal heading for a clash in the Coral Eclipse with Derby winner Motivator next month.

FUTURE STAR OF THE WEEK

FLASHY WINGS: Mick Channon told Malton trainer Mick Easterby before the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes that the daughter of Zafonic was potentially the best he had ever trained.

Given that he's had former Queen Mary winners Bint Allayl and Queen's Logic in his care, it was quite an accolade.

And the chestnut two-year-old, a picture of calm in the paddock before the race, didn't let her trainer down, showing the kind of acceleration that is reserved for only really good horses.

She has the temperament, she has a high cruising speed and she has another gear. It's a long way to next year's classics, but she came out of the race with a 16-1 quote for the 1,000 Guineas. It could all go wrong before then, of course, but Flashy Wings definitely has star quality.

TRAINER OF THE WEEK

LET'S be honest - it wasn't looking good for the north.

Royal Ascot comes to Yorkshire for the first time and for two days, the northern trainers had drawn a blank.

The Master of Middleham, Mark Johnston, finally got a winner on the board for Yorkshire with Melrose Avenue's battling victory in yesterday's Queen's Vase.

But by then, County Durham farmer Howard Johnson - better known for his jumpers - had already broken the duck for the north with Masta Plasta in Thursday's Norfolk Stakes.

Co-owned with Graham Wylie, who made a mint selling his holding in Newcastle-based software giant Sage, Masta Plasta did the business in style.

Johnson was clearly a very happy man - but a far from comfortable one.

He looked like a fish out of water in his top hat and tails and made a point of saying so.

"It's great to have a winner here, but it takes me all my time to get all this clobber on," he said. "I'm more of a cloth cap man myself."

So forget the likes of Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien, Howard's our top man for getting the north off the mark with his first Ascot winner and for cutting through all that fashion nonsense.

CHEEK OF THE WEEK

FRENCH jockey Olivier Peslier takes the bouquet for his super-cool ride on Westerner in the Gold Cup.

Like a cat waiting to pounce on a mouse, Peslier stalked Distinction before pushing nose-banded Westerner clear inside the final furlong for a cosy victory.

And the cheek didn't end there with the Gallic charmer planting a kiss on surprised post-race interviewer Rishi Persad.

"It's OK, it's a French kiss," quipped Peslier as Persad tried to recover his composure, but it only served to make him look even more alarmed.

"A French kiss?" he squealed before finally seizing the moment and giving the rider a peck on the cheek in return.

PERSONAL FAVOURITE OF THE WEEK

HEARTBEAT actress Trisha Penrose in her rose print dress and peach pashmina. My heart fair skipped a beat...