Teenage apprentice Nicky Mackay has revealed how he always fancied he could cause a John Smith's Brighton Mile upset

The 19-year-old from Newmarket grabbed a thrilling success on board 12-1 shot Aesculus on the second day of Brighton's August Festival.

Most of another 4,000 crowd would have been expecting hot favourite Masafi to make it eight wins on the bounce under the guidance of champion jockey contender Seb Sanders.

Instead, the Sir Mark Prescott-trained three-year-old never threatened in the final stages and ended back in fifth.

The contest served up suitable drama for Brighton's richest race of the year, with prize money totalling £30,000.

Mackay celebrated his second career win at Brighton and admitted: "It was brilliant. I wasn't sure if the favourite was beatable but it couldn't keep going forever.

"I thought I had a great chance. I didn't have much weight and I tracked him the whole way round and moved as late as I could. Luckily I put my stick down and he ran on just when it matters."

Brighton is supposed to be a specialists' track but local favourite A Woman In Love and regular winner Sanders were among those left trailing by a jockey who hardly talks like someone who relishes the sea air. Mackay admitted: "It's a scary track. It's probably not one of my favourites."

There was a winning track record behind this success story, though. Trainer Luca Cumani does not send to Brighton too often but has a decent strike record when he does. Make it nine wins now from 40 runs.

Sanders also slipped up on favourite Franksalot in the end-of-day Club And Institute Union Classified Stakes.

He still scored two wins against one by Frankie Dettori, one of his rivals in the race to be top jockey on the flat, though the Italian replied with a 674-1 four-timer after both men had dashed off to Kempton for evening action.

Sanders got the nod after a photo finish to the second most important contest, the Ebony Room Brighton Sprint, as Who's Winning survived a charge from Tom Queally and Peruvian Style.

The double was completed in the Coral Greyhound Stadia Handicap as Kirkham Abbey took what turned into a two-way battle with Fortune Point.

Dettori had just the one success from four rides at Brighton yesterday, though a few punters might have been sensing a three-or-four-timer when he took the opening Chaplin's Bar At Burgess Hill Maiden Auction Stakes with My Princess.

He set the early pace too in the next on the card, the Seaview At East Preston Selling Handicpap, before 10-1 shot Mr Whizz came through on the rail.

Dettori's record at Brighton is now seven wins in just 17 rides and his visit added star quality. Fans of all ages flocked to the weighing room hoping to catch a glimpse of Frankie.

Asked about his afternoon, he said: "It was good. I had a winner. Great.

"It's not Royal Ascot so if you get a winner that's what you come here for."

Dettori stayed away from Brighton for four years but has been a regular visitor in recent months as he looks to fulfil what he describes as "personal ambition" and ride 150 winners in the season.

He added: "I want to try to get to 150 so I've got to get out and ride as many as I can. This is a very fast track. The horses do the best they can and it's nice to see a few people at a racecourse."

Another big gathering is expected for Ladies Evening today as the three-day spectacular comes to a close.