Michael O'Callaghan's Dark Pursuit made a winning debut in the auction maiden for two-year-olds at Down Royal.

Leigh Roche 's mount got on terms over a quarter of a mile from home, led over a furlong out and stayed on best to prevail by three parts of a length at 12/1. Army Recruit (3/1) kept on well in second without reaching the winner. Social Graces the well backed 5/2 favourite, was half a length further back in third.

Leigh Roche said: "He's actually just mentally such a big baby - that's why the cheekpieces are on him.

"He works very well at home and does everything right at home. He used to be just pure babyish and would frighten himself. The cheekpieces are there to help him jump and more or less to cop on and get on with it.

"Today he jumped and he was green and he was on and off (the bridle) with me. Even when we quickened up he lugged a bit right, pure greenness, but when we did quicken up he put the race to bed. He was very good today.

"There's loads more in the tank, I struggled to pull him up coming back. There's definitely plenty of ability there and that will bring him on and it will improve him some amount mentally. That was the whole idea of today.

"Michael (O'Callaghan) is a very good trainer, he knows what he has. He told me to just jump out, travel there and get him up in the van and that if he goes like he works at home, without being too green, he will take a lot of beating.

"He definitely would (get further in time) but he doesn't lack a gear but I think next year he'll make a cracking miler."