ROMAN Turbo showed a decisive change of gear to land the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

Winner of a maiden over six furlongs on his debut at the Kildare track just three weeks earlier, Michael Halford’s son of Holy Roman Emperor had no trouble taking the big step up in grade.

Ronan Whelan had him nicely placed in third as Mount Fuji led in the early stages, with Lil Grey second, but all seven had a chance as they entered the final two furlongs.

Round Turbo (6/1) hit top gear to see off Lil Grey by three-quarters of a length. Soul Search was a head away in third.

“We are never particularly hard on the two-year-olds at home, but we’d knew he’d come forward,” said Halford. “Ronan sat on him at the Curragh the other morning and said he felt great. We said we’d find out more here.

“He’s a smart horse, very professional. He just jumps and is very straightforward. He’s coming forward well. He wasn’t in any of the big races so we’ll have to talk to his owner and see what he has in mind for him. I’d say long-term he’ll probably end up in Hong Kong.

“I actually put him in the nursery to see what weight (mark) he’d get and he (handicapper) gave him a rating of 92. He’d have fairly scooted up in that, you’d like to think!

“He’s only the third two-year-old we’ve run this year so it’s hard to get a line on them. At home he just does enough. It was a different race to his maiden, but he was well able for it.

“He’s really come to hand recently. I’d still say there could be more to come from him.”