John Gosden given plenty reason for optimism

John Gosden used Sandown to showcase a pair of equally-promising two-year-olds as Treasury Devil and Masked Marvel left long-lasting impressions in victory yesterday.

A Classic is already in the satchel for Gosden and his jockey William Buick after Arctic Cosmos' exploits in last weekend's Ladbrokes St Leger and the time is coming for those likely candidates for next season to emerge.

After a debut victory at Newbury, Treasury Devil was one step further along the academic trail than his stablemate but the form had taken a knock and he needed to justify his owner Lady Lloyd-Webber's rare decision to keep one of her home-bred colts in training.

The son of Bernadini was naturally free of such pressure and, as the 8-11 favourite for the Futurity Novice Stakes, he left Introvert languishing two and a half lengths behind when asked to challenge. Lady Lloyd-Webber said: "We always rated him very highly and he's a very exciting prospect for next year.

"Who knows where he will go next. John is very cagey and I didn't even know he was going to win today, quite honestly."

Lady Lloyd-Webber's Watership Down Stud has had an interesting fortnight, as they bred the St Leger favourite Rewilding and will shortly welcome back the now-retired Dar Re Mi. "We are pretty ruthless at culling and we nearly always sell our colts," she added. "We always get them valued and nine times out of ten they meet our valuations but this one didn't so we decided to keep him."

Masked Marvel was 13-8 favourite for a competitive European Breeders' Fund Maiden Stakes and the e260,000 purchase strode away from Mutayaser inside the final furlong.

Jeremy Brummett, racing manager to owner Bjorn Nielsen, said: "He's a proper horse, we like him, but we'll find out the next time. I don't want to get caught up in the hype, we'll just see how he comes out of the race and see what Mr Gosden decides. The owner is a great supporter of British racing and there's only one race he wants to win (the Derby) but it's one step at a time."

After Treasury Devil had later won, Lady Lloyd-Webber revealed: "Masked Man's owner is a good friend of mine and I asked William what he thought of the two horses. He said there was nothing between them."

Paddy Power offer 33-1 for Masked Man in the Derby and the same price for Treasury Devil in the 2000 Guineas.

Lincoln winner Penitent struggled on quicker ground at Epsom on his only other start this term but the easier conditions saw him defy a 103-day absence in the Listed Fortune Stakes.