Shartash demonstrated both a determined attitude and a strong turn of foot to win the Gr.2 Railway Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday, a first success for H.H. the Aga Khan in the prestigious two-year-old contest.

The Invincible Spirit colt defeated the more experienced Ballydoyle runner Blackbeard, and in doing so became the first Aga Khan juvenile to demonstrate such early season success since the great Siyouni.

Trainer Johnny Murtagh, who won the race twice as a jockey, said: "These colours have been very lucky to me throughout my career. We’ve had some great days. For His Highness to send us horses was special and to win the Railway Stakes is a great day for the team. He’s a nice horse who's improving all the time and he had to be brave today.

"Ben [Coen, jockey] said he has a good turn of foot and all the good ones have a turn of foot. Ben said he wasn’t in a great position but when he got into the gap he quickened up well.

"After he won in Naas we thought this race would really suit him well. We freshened him up and it’s great when it all comes together. He’s in the Phoenix Stakes and could go there."

Shartash is the second foal out of Dubawi mare Shamreen, who herself won three Group races at The Curragh and is from the family of Classic winner Shahrastani. Shamreen has a yearling colt by Siyouni and a filly foal by Lope De Vega to come.