Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, Prince Eiji is bred in the purple as a son of Dubawi out of the top-flight winning mare Izzi Top, making him a half-brother to stable companion Willie John, who is unbeaten in two starts, and he duly commanded a price tag of 2,600,000 guineas when he was offered for sale at Tattersalls in the autumn.

Eleven months down the line and making his first start in public, Prince Eiji showed a fine attitude under Andrea Atzeni, travelling strongly and taking up the running inside the final furlong, always looking in command in the closing stages to repel the challenge of the Clive Cox-trained Red Armada by half a length.

Later on the afternoon, Jack Mitchell carried the same yellow-and-black-spotted silks to success aboard Canvassed, who also made a winning debut at Newcastle in the one mile novice for older horses.

An imposing son of Shamardal, the three-year-old has taken plenty of time to mature, but he showed the benefit of the patience afforded to him with this smooth-travelling success, quickening clear inside the final furlong to see off the more experienced Kingdom Brunel by three and a quarter lengths.

Roger said: “I was delighted with the performance of Prince Eiji, who made the perfect introduction, and he is only going to improve on this moving forward. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has given Canvassed plenty of time and he won this ordinary race in good style. We will find another novice for him and go from there.”