SUTTER County made it two wins from as many starts when giving weight and a beating to his rivals in the Ben Burgess & Co EBF Novice Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday.

After creating a big impression at Wolverhampton on Good Friday, the Mark Johnston-trained two-year-old was sent off the 4-9 favourite to follow up in the five-furlong event.

Kept not far off the breakneck pace set by Jester Spirit and Makman, the son of Invincible Spirit moved on at the midway point with main market rival Tomily and newcomer Copper Knight.

Having mastered both those rivals, the odds-on favourite was required to pull out even more near the finish to repel the late rally of Dream Of Dreams, which he successfully managed to do with a head separating the pair at the line.

Following the race, the winner was made a 14-1 chance by Paddy Power for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Johnston said of the William Buick-ridden winner: "Even before the race we had some concerns about the ground, with him not having run on it.

"He has only been on the grass once at home and that was a gallop out of the stalls 10 days before his first run, where he finished behind The Last Lion, and on that day Joe Fanning was adamant he didn't handle the soft ground.

"I would like to think he is a lot better than that on fast ground. William said they went very fast and he didn't want to lose touch with them. He did struggle a bit down the hill, but he was always going to struggle on the ground.

"He will have one more run on fast ground, then the plan will be to go to Royal Ascot."

Also on Wednesday, Beverley got their season underway with a seven-race card and Johnston was also on the mark, courtesy of Galesburg, coming home in front under the excellent Joe Fanning.

Afterwards, Johnston's assistant Jock Bennett said: "Galesburg had the soft-ground form, and it is soft, so that was no surprise. Hopefully he can go on from this."

Alan Swinbank is another trainer bang in form at present. He sent Another Go out to follow up his recent Redcar win and he looks the type to continue to improve for his shrewd handler.

The concluding handicap was a run-of-the-mill event, but Jordan Vaughan was all smiles after steering Karl Burke's Fidelma Moon to success.

Vaughan was riding his first winner after suffering a badly broken leg at York last September.

Burke will also look back fondly over the last week, as he could well have a star on his hands in the shape of Quiet Reflection, who landed a Group 3 in France last Sunday under Dougie Costello.

The rider was recording a first Group win on the Flat, while Burke was relieved that last season's Cornwallis Stakes heroine could provide him with a first turf success of the season.

"We have learned something there because she probably hit the front too soon," said Burke. "I thought we had it won easily and then when the camera angle changed and there was another 200 metres to run, I slightly had my heart in my mouth."

Ascot will be the ultimate aim for Quiet Reflection, who runs in the colours of the 160-strong Ontoawinner syndicate.

"She will probably go to Haydock for the Sandy Lane Stakes as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup, though she will also get an entry against the older horses over five furlongs in the King's Stand," said Burke.

After a quiet start to the campaign, Costello had joked to Burke that he should book a separate taxi back to the airport in case things didn't go well.

"It is nice to get the first Group winner under the belt," said Costello. "Karl has been brilliant and put me under no pressure. The yard hasn't been firing on all cylinders, so he just told me to ride a piece of work on her. She just does everything so easily."