Darain makes very impressive winning debut

The regally bred Darain, signed for by Qatar Racing's David Redvers for 3.5m guineas at the 2018 Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sale, made a sparkling winning debut at Newbury on Wednesday evening.

Darain – the world's most expensive yearling sold in 2018 is a brother to triple Gr.1 winner Too Darn Hot, Gr.2 winner and St Leger runner-up Lah Ti Dar and Gr.3 winner So Mi Dar. He's by exceptional sire Dubawi out of triple Gr.1 winner Dar Re Mi, herself a half-sister to dual Gr.1 winner Rewilding. Darain is part-owned by his breeder, the Lloyd-Webber's Watership Down Stud.

Darain was soon close up under Oisin Murphy and after travelling well, shot clear inside the final furlong for just hands-and-heels riding. He had four and three quarters lengths over Brilliant Light at the line having soon put distance between himself and the rest despite the steady gallop.

Oisin said: ‚"I was really pleased with him; he behaved very well and his attitude was good. He also moves very well. We didn't go very fast early and really got racing from the bottom of the straight. Darain went through the gears really well and galloped through the line.

‚"He's obviously inexperienced so will need another run in a novice but we're still relatively early in the season so there's time. I'm happy to stay at a mile and a quarter for now and I think he has an exciting future.‚"

John Gosden obviously knows Darain's family inside out and will have a plan mapped out for what is clearly a very exciting three-year-old colt.