MADHMOON confirmed the impression of his debut success with a stunning display to win the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Dawn Approach colt had suggested he could be exciting when scoring over this mile a month ago and showed a terrific turn of foot to take the honours in style.

Chris Hayes was happy to keep the Kevin Prendergast-trained two-year-old off the gallop set by Western Australia until the business end of proceedings.

When set alight, Madhmoon (6/5 favourite) put the race to bed in a matter of strides, as he pulled away to win by two and a half lengths from Broome. Masaff made late gains for third place.

Prendergast said: “I think he’s a good horse and it was either the National Stakes or run in this. I was a bit worried about the ground here, as I thought it was a bit quick but the decision was made and it was the right one.

“Chris gave him a good ride, but good horses are easily ridden and he won well. I don’t know what the opposition was like, but he couldn’t do more than win well.

“He’s effective on any ground, but that might have been a bit quick for him today. He’ll get some ease in the ground in the spring.

“I don’t know whether he will run again this year. I’ll have to talk to the boss (Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum). He’s in the mile race at Doncaster (Vertem Futurity Trophy) and if he doesn’t run there he won’t run again until the spring.

“I’m happy with him going a mile at the moment and I don’t know what the plans are otherwise. Hopefully he lives up to expectations.”

Madhmoon was cut to 20/1 from 33/1 for the 2000 Guineas with Betfair, and to 12/1 from 25s by RaceBets, who also inserted the Dawn Approach colt at 16/1 for the Investec Derby.