Turnkey turns on power

Turnkey, who caught a tartar in Blue Dakota on his debut last month, showed himself a potential Royal Ascot performer when breezing to victory in the opener at rain-lashed Kempton today.

The two-year-old, with jockey Ted Durcan wearing Sheikh Mohammed’s maroon and white silks, headed Planet Tomato approaching the furlong marker and hosed in by 11 lengths in the EBF Sharp Minds Betfair Maiden Stakes.

The ground was officially altered to soft ahead of racing, although Durcan felt it was worse than that. “It’s almost heavy, but they are getting through it. It’s very wet.”

Trainer Mick Channon had been unsure whether Turnkey would cope with the conditions.

“But he obviously likes that ground. I don’t have many who do,” he said. “I’m chuffed with him and he’s done everything spot on.

“He’s such a laid-back horse that I wasn’t shocked when he was beaten first time. The other fella knew his job better, and I wouldn’t swap mine.

“We’ll probably step him up to six furlongs now and it’s a question of whether he runs again before Ascot.”