Qanoon kicked off what looks to be a very promising career with an impressive debut in a one-mile maiden event at Newmarket Racecourse in Great Britain. The 3-year-old from the first crop by Afleet Alex took the demanding uphill, straight course race by a comfortable 1 3/4-lengths.

Sent off at 4-1 odds, Qanoon stalked in fourth position behind a solid pace for the first half mile. Like many European turf races, the real running comes just a few furlongs from the wire. And when Qanoon was asked, he pulled clear of the field, with the rider looking back for competition.

Qanoon sold for $600,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Sale to Shadwell Estate Co., and races in the colors of Shiekh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Qanoon was the second highest-priced yearling that season by his sire.

The chestnut colt is out of Solvig, who earned just over $800,000 while winning a pair of Grade 3 races, the Regret S. and Pucker Up S., as well as placing in eight other added-money events. She is the dam of one other foal to race, a winner of $84,212.

A day previous, Afleet Alex sired the 11th stakes horse from his first crop, when Alex's Vision ran third in the $75,000 Danzig Stakes on the dirt. Alex's Vision races for his owner/breeder/trainer Tim Ritchey, who trained Afleet Alex, and had just broken his maiden by nine lengths on May 22nd.

Afleet Alex is North America's leading second-crop sire, with progeny earnings of $1,388,562 through May 28.