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Two-year-old Orvar took the trip to Turkey in his stride, with the colt turning in a battling performance to win the prestigious International Trakya Trophy (a local Group 3) for Richard Hannon at Veliefendi on Sunday.

Orvar has kept good company since winning his debut at Salisbury, notably when fifth in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and second to the BDS-bred Raucous – who later ran second in the Gimcrack Stakes – in a conditions race at Newmarket.

Partnered by Pat Dobbs on this occasion, it wasn’t totally straightforward for Orvar, as launched to make his challenge two furlongs out, he was pushed wide by a hanging rival. Yet despite having to switch, he was able to run down the leader and win by a length from local hope Graystorm.

“Orvar was very professional,” Richard Hannon told the Racing Post. “It is asking a lot of a two-year-old to travel them this far but the prize-money was very good so we thought we would try and he did it well.”

Orvar, by Dandy Man, was bought by Tony Nerses from last year’s DBS Premier Sale for £60,000 from the Hillwood Stud draft. Bred by David Harrison, he is a half-brother to three winners, including the unbeaten Dark Kingdom, and out of Roskeen, a Grand Lodge half-sister to the dams of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Samitar and Gimcrack Stakes winner Shaweel.

Also on Sunday, Kasbah turned in a good show against a field of older sprinters when second in a competitive 5f handicap at Dundalk. The Johnny Murtagh-trained son of Acclamation found only Togoville too good in the contest, prompting the Racing Post to comment: “Kasbah was an honourable second. He also showed plenty of speed but wasn´t able to go with the winner when he kicked…..there´s encouragement that he might turn into a useful sprinter for next year.”