A HUMBLE Lingfield seller marked a new stage in the career of Marcus Tregoning as he collected his first winner since changing stables.

Based in Lambourn since taking over from his mentor Dick Hern back in 1997, Tregoning moved his horses to historic Whitsbury in Hampshire to take over the yard vacated by George Baker.

Homeboy is the only horse he has saddled to date, making the frame twice already this month, and it appeared only a matter of time before he went a place or two better.

Twice successful at the course in January, the 4-5 favourite was second at the course on Sunday and finished half a length ahead as 4-5 favourite for the Europa Quality Print Selling Stakes.

‘‘It’s a lowly start but we’re thrilled to be there and it’s all going well,’’ said Tregoning.

‘‘It has probably the most beautiful gallops in the world and hopefully we’ll have plenty of orders for the sales.’’ Connections had to reach 6,000 guineas to keep Homeboy at the auction and Tregoning said: ‘‘He’s not the easiest at home but he’s fun.’’ Not quite out with the old and in with the new, Tregoning has a few familiar names for the Flat season.

‘‘We’ve still got Askar Tau, the Gold Cup horse,’’ he said.

‘‘He could start off in a race at Leicester and then go to the Sagaro at Ascot.

‘‘Boom And Bust will start off at Listed level and Bronze Angel will be ready for later in the season.

‘‘I’ve got a nice filly called Valais Girl, who might start off at Newbury.’’ There will be more enticing cards staged at the course this year, even on the Polytrack, and Andrew Balding would have struggled to find a weaker opportunity for You Da One than the H & V Serviceplan Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Placed in three from four previous starts, jockey Liam Keniry summed up the experience for the 1-20 favourite when he said: ‘‘It was like a racecourse gallop but it’s nice for him to get his head in front. I’d say he’d appreciate another furlong.’’ Kieren Fox landed his second victory since his return to the saddle on Mary’s Pet in division one of the H & V Serviceplan Handicap.

Issues with the whip contributed to the decline of a once-promising apprentice, who had to serve a threemonth ban and only resumed largely for Epsom trainer Lee Carter in February.

The 16-1 shot was in front and out of trouble when Eddie Ahern and 4-5 favourite Athletic looked to shut off Intomist on the home bend and could never get on terms himself, finishing a length in arrears.

Athletic came back with a cut on a front leg and Ahern received a two-day careless riding ban (April 10-11).

Paul Burgoyne landed his second winner in three days as Teen Ager (7-1) took division two.

‘‘We don’t have many, but they’re running well,’’ the Wincanton trainer said.

‘‘Things didn’t work out for him in his last couple of runs but I’m pleased he came good today.’’ William Buick was off the mark for the new British Flat season when sweeping through late on Sweet Ovation (9-2) in the Rudridge Ltd Handicap.

‘‘He’s a good rider,’’ said a knowing Mark Usher.

‘‘This filly hasn’t been quite herself this winter and the handicapper has given her a bit of a chance. She’s getting there now and you’d think she’d go on from this.’’ Buick, fresh from a winter stint in Japan and with a host of rides on Dubai World Cup night, then helped John Gosden’s Bright Strike get off the mark in similarly bloodless fashion as You Da One as 1-8 favourite for the Chartplan Maiden Stakes.

‘‘He bumped into one or two good ones last year and that was a nice confidence-booster,’’ said Buick.

Fergus Sweeney was thrilled to win his 10th race on John Jenkins’ half-blind veteran Billy Red (5-1) in the Oyster Partnership Handicap but was also given a two-day whip ban (April 10-11) Thecornishcowboy (8-1) emerged on top in a four-way finish to the Crystal Palace Handicap.