JOHN Gosden has campaigned Maverick Wave mainly on the all-weather over the past winter but the four-year-old has plenty of ability on turf and demonstrated as much in the Group 3 Betfair Huxley Stakes over a mile and a quarter plus.

This looked a very warm contest, with Cannock Chase expected by many to step up on his Sandown third, where he looked in need of the race, and Air Pilot trying to maintain last season’s impressive progress.

However, William Buick had Maverick Wave smartly away and made all the running, keeping him balanced when the colt jinked away from the rail in the early stages.

Moore drove Cannock Chase alongside as they approached the furlong marker but Maverick Wave was not for passing and kept on gamely to score by half a length with Air Pilot only a neck behind. All three should win good races this term.

“Letting him go off in front is the key to him,” Buick said of the winner. “He’s very tenacious and tough and has gone from strength to strength. He could go a lot further when things are in his favour.”

Cannock Chase looks a typical Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old and this defeat may not matter too much as the season unfolds.

He won a Windsor maiden on the soft but looked a fast ground horse last summer and may well be seen to greater advantage when the summer weather arrives. He is Group 3 standard at least and should be watched very closely, especially when raised in trip.

COLLABORATION HAT-TRICK

Andrew Balding has started the season with a flourish and may not have seen all that much so far to worry him where Elm Park’s Derby prospects are concerned, though there are more trials to come.

Stable-companion Collaboration goes on improving and defied a 10lb rise in the opening IG Handicap over 10 furlongs.

The 9/4 favourite was completing a hat-trick, having won most convincingly at Epsom last time, and this was just as impressive. Coming from off the pace as Elkaayed made the running, he quickened up for David Probert, led a furlong out and galloped on to beat last year’s winner Tres Coronas by over two lengths. Master Of Finance did well enough in third to suggest that a good handicap or two will come his way before long.

Balding’s wife Anna Lisa confirmed that the main target for Collaboration, a Halling gelding, will be the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot, though the official handicapper is surely very close to stopping his gallop now.

Richard Fahey seems to saddle winners every day (which is not that much of an exaggeration, given that his target this year is 200) and completed a double with the youngster Young John, 2/1 favourite for the two-year-old maiden, and stable stalwart Mica Mika (8/1), who made it a hat-trick this term in the closing 10-furlong handicap.