JOSEPH O’Brien maintained his slender lead over Michael Halford at the head of the winter season standings as Dark Vader emerged as the evening’s star turn with a smooth success in the three-year-old six-furlong conditions race.

In the colours of Dan Hayden, Justin Casse and the All In Line Partnership this 90-rated son of Dark Angel was adding to his victory in a seven-furlong maiden at this track in late November. A step-up to a mile just before Christmas proved a bridge too far for this colt but back in distance he produced a quality display.