"HE is as nice as we have had" - high praise from trainer Clive Cox after Positive scooted home by five lengths on his debut at Salisbury on Wednesday.

Coming from the pace, the two-year-old was done no favours by Hexagon who swerved alarmingly to his left as he came to challenge but once straightened impressively drew clear in the final furlong.

Cox, who bought Positive as a yearling for £55,000 guineas, is clearly looking to a bright future with the colt who is closely related to the stable's high class miler Zonderland but there are no immediate plans.

"He has a very laid back temperament and we have been very impressed with him from the start. He is only a baby, so chilled and is a horse for next year. He has real potential."

Mick Channon was in a jokey mood after Milltown Star got off the mark at the third time of asking when a comprehensive winner of the six furlong maiden.

"Might take in a couple of Group Ones in between," he quipped of the juvenile who will be heading for the Curragh on Irish Champions Day in September to take in the valuable auction race.

The colt had considerably stepped up on his Carlisle debut when beaten three quarters of a length over seven furlong on the all-weather at Chelmsford last time.

But the former Southampton striker and England international was unperturbed by the drop back in trip for Milltown Star who couldn't find a buyer at the sales there last year and was bought back in for £2,000. "He travelled well and it's a stiff six here."

Power of Darkness bounced back from a disappointing run at Newmarket to swoop deep into the final furlong to grab the one mile handicap and give owner Rupert Villiers a one day early birthday present.

"They went no pace last time and it didn't suit him," explained Whitsbury trainer Marcus Tregoning. "Today they wound it up a long way out which was much better."

Next stop for the four-year-old is the Totesport Mile at Glorious Goodwood, a race which the yard won in 2011 with their old favourite Boom and Bust.

The feature race of the day went to Newmarket challenger Desert Icon who under Ryan Moore took the 12 furlong handicap with more ease than the winning margin of a head would suggest.

It was a one man business for Essex trainer Charlie Wallis who saddled two runners for the five furlong handicap. Not only did he drove the horsebox from his Essex base, he also led up one of the runners and his efforts were suitably rewarded when Zac Brown in the final strides finally overhauled Harry Hurricane who had set a blistering pace.