Mark Johnston has an increased team for Hamdan Al Maktoum this year and he sent out Etmaam to win in his blue and white colours in convincing fashion in the Sharp Minds Betfair Maiden Stakes at Newcastle yesterday.

It took a while for Etmaam to shake off Henndey, but the 10-11 shot did so with 100 yards to run and he stretched away to beat him by two lengths with High Cane who raced on the opposite side of the course, third best, beaten another one and a three quarters lengths.

Johnston's wife Deirdre said: ''I was keen to come today. I have been raring to go for the start of the turf season.

''We did not know if Etmaam would handle the ground, it is quite sticky, but he seemed to and he was going all his best work in the closing stages.''

Mrs Johnston went on: ''We have four horses for Sheikh Hamdan last year, but we have Bandari and another ten this season, they are lovely horses and it is nice to make a winning start for him.''

The stable's plans for the UlitmateBet.com 2000 Guineas have not been finalised yet, and Mrs Johnston added: ''I am not sure what will happen, but I rode Pearl Of Love this morning and he is really buzzing.''

Acceleration (25-1) proved too quick for his rivals under Paul Hanagan in the Putter And Flutter Handicap, beating Magic Combination by two lengths and trainer Dick Allan is hoping for better things to come.

Allan bought Acceleration out of the Sir Mark Prescott stable for 20,000gns at the October Sales, and he said: ''You can say to an owner that you have bought something decent, but until the horse does it you can't be sure.

''I think a change of scenery has helped him and he did it nicely, he does keep a bit for himself - but I ride him myself at home, he cruises and can quicken, he has gears and perhaps he can win a decent race one day.''

Tara Tara (10-1) caused an upset when gaining a last-gasp success under Robert Winston in the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes.

But the John Quinn-trained filly would have been a desperately unlucky loser because, full of running she had a wall of horses in front of her and had all sorts of trouble finding a clear run.

Winston finally found daylight just in time and to her credit she quickened up in good style and got up close home to beat the 6-5 favourite, the Sheikh Mohammed-owned Stanbury, by a neck.

Tara Tara is the first of John Quinn's juveniles to run, and he said: ''She has been working well and was fit, and as five or six of them looked quite nice in the parade ring so there should be a few winners come out of the race.

''She is well bred and she is worth a lot more now than she was ten minutes ago.''

David Nicholls pulled off a one-two in the Saltwell Signs Claiming Stakes with American Cousin (10-1) and with his son Adrian on board, and Speedy James (25-1) in the six-furlong dash.

Nicholls said: ''American Cousin has never won before June time before, they said I couldn't get him fit!