DON George won the $715,000 Royal Lancaster Trophy feature to open his two-year-old racing debut at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Trained by Philip Feanny and ridden by Trevor Simpson, Don George — a 2-1 chance — held off the 1-2 favourite Turbine to win by 3/4-parts of a length in a driving finish.

Don George showed dash, discipline and doggedness in getting to the leader in the drive, but this was no surprise to trainer Feanny.

“He has shown a little promise, but at exercise he was not putting out a lot of effort, so we decided to give him a run and it proved to be correct,” said Feanny.

Help up in second, tracking splits of 23.3, 46.4 set by the frontrunning Turbine, Simpson then became busy aboard Don George turning for home.

The bay got into full stride inside the final 200 metres and after a sustained challenge on the outside, overhauled the leader inside the final 50 metres before going on to win the maiden special weight contest for native-bred two-year-old colts and geldings.

Six ran. Seven runners were originally declared, but Mr Alliance was a late non-starter.

Don George ran 1,000 metres round in 1:00.1to open his winning account.

Turbine, ridden by Dick Cardenas, led from the off after shooting from barrier #5 to lead and did so, tracked by Don George and Bears And Bulls until upstaged by the winner close home.

Trained by Richard Azan for Elite Bloodstock Limited, Turbine once again failed to follow through in the drive after looking the likely winner passing the 100 metres pole, but once again, finished second, this time ahead of the 9-5 second favourite Bears And Bulls, ridden by Shane Ellis, by 4 3/4 lengths.

Overpriced, ridden by Richard Mitchell, completed the frame as a 36-1 chance.

Owned by Oakridge Farms, Don George is a bay colt by Royal Minister out of Lunar Explosion (Outflanker) and bred at Hamstables Ltd.

In winning the first time of asking, Don George pocketed $390,400 as the winner’s share for his first-time effort.

Meanwhile, champion and leading rider Omar Walker continued his quest for another 100 winners for the season when he rode another double on the 10-race card to share the spotlight with Dane Nelson, who also rode two winners.

Walker had the leg up on Jigzy Blade’s Mismyrtleboyrichie for trainer Tony Kirlew in the first race and Lloyd McBean & Mark Reynolds’ Burning Cielo for trainer Fitzgerald J Richards in the eighth.

Nelson’s winners were the Carl Anderson-bred, -owned and -trained Diamond Valley in the second race and Raphael Gordon’s King’s Law for trainer Ryan Darby in the third.