Destain chucked his hat into the ring for the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on October 26 with a widening seven-length success at Kempton last night.
John and Thady's Gosden's well-bred two-year-old looked like a useful prospect after a debut success in August and readily proved that was likely the case when brushing aside a 7lb penalty with the minimum of fuss.
Always towards the fore under Kieran Shoemark, the Juddmonte-owned son of Wootton Bassett quickened up in taking fashion once given the go-ahead, putting a striking seven lengths between him and his nearest pursuer.
A tilt at the Group 1 William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster later this month could beckon, with bookmakers Paddy Power quick to react by cutting him from 14/1 to 8/1 for the final top-level contest of the UK season.
Shoemark, who enjoyed a first Group 1 success since joining the Clarehaven Stables operation when steering Friendly Soul to victory in the Prix de l'Opera. Told Racing TV: "He's got the right profile going into a race like that (Futurity Trophy). It's likely to be soft ground on the day, he's a half-brother to Arrest and he likes soft ground.
"He's half the size of Arrest, who is large, wants a mile and a half, probably further, and has a big, long stride, whereas he's a lot neater, a lot tighter and he's got more speed.
"I'm not sure we beat a whole lot there but he's a proper stakes horse. I wouldn't like to say too much but he gave me a good feel."
