Olden Times back with a victory

Olden Times made his return to the races a winning one at Newmarket on Wednesday with a 1 3/4-length victory over Desert Deer in the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes.

Winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat in 2001 and four times Group 1-placed, the 5-year-old Olden Times, a son of Darshaan, had not run since finishing third behind Keltos in last May's Lockinge Stakes. Trained by John Dunlop, Olden Times, the 5-2 co-favorite, covered the straight 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.58 on good to firm ground. Newbury's Lockinge Stakes on May 17 will be Olden Times's next target.

* Intercontinental, withdrawn from Tuesday's Nell Gwyn Stakes by trainer Andre Fabre because of the outbreak of equine flu at Newmarket, will prep for the 1000 Guineas on Friday in Maisons-Laffitte's Prix Bridaine, a six-furlong allowance against colts.

* Olivier Doleuze, who for 10 years until October was Criquette Head-Maarek's first-string rider in France, has been given an indefinite suspension by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for testing positive to a banned substance at Sha Tin on Sunday. If a second test also proves positive, Doleuze faces a lengthy ban.