Mick Channon admitted to mixed emotions after Samitar, who gave him his first major Classic winner, left his West Ilsley stables to race in the United States.

The Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine is to join trainer Chad Brown.

But before then she will run under Channon’s name for $200,000 in the Lake George Stakes at Saratoga today.

Channon said: “Obviously she was a special filly and sadly she’s left us a couple of months before we’d have preferred. I’m very proud to have been associated with her.”