MARCUS Tregoning, dealt a devastating blow last month with the enforced retirement of his champion miler Mohaather through injury, has a high class prospect with Alkumait who took the feature race at Newbury on Saturday.

And if the Whitsbury trainer says he's good, then he is good.

Now his only problem is deciding with owner Hamdan Al Maktoum which of the major two-year-old races autumn races to tackle.

Sent off a generous 8/1, he confirmed the promise of his two earlier runs by taking the Mill Reef Stakes more comfortably than the winning margin of three quarters of a length would suggest.

Having run well on his debut at the Berkshire track, Tregoning followed a traditional route by taking the horse, which was bred at the Whitsbury Manor Stud, to one of his favourite tracks in Goodwood where he easily a maiden.

Today was a real test of his ability and the Showcasing colt passed it. Settled in the rear of the field, he made steady headway two furlongs out before taking the lead inside the final furlong.

Though he struck a note of caution afterwards, Tregoning was delighted by the performance.

"It's early days for him, this was only his third race and I think he is a work in progress." But he significantly added: "I think he is pretty smart and showed a good attitude. I'm not worried about the ground for him. He will go on this sort of ground (the official going was good) or with a bit of cut."

Jockey Jim Crowley was very impressed.

"He settled nicely and found a change of gear. In the race he switched off nicely. It was all so smooth. He has a good turn of foot and obviously this is a massive step forward from Goodwood. He's right up there."

However, selecting his next race is no straight forward matter.

The sheikh is in the fortunate position of having more than one top class juvenile and no early decision will be made but it would to say the least be very surprising if the Middle Park or the Dewhurst, both run at Newmarket next month, were not under major consideration.