QUSHCHI got off the mark in good style this afternoon in a 7f maiden at Newmarket.

The daughter of Encosta de Lago, owned by Lady Howard de Walden, stepped up on her debut third at Newbury to beat a number of well-fancied fillies.

Jockey Jim Crowley settled the 11/1 shot in the midfield. She travelled smoothly before running on when hitting the rising ground.

She showed a good attitude to come between runners to get up inside the final 50 yards to deny Choral by a length.

Qushchi comes from a family that William knows very well as she is out of a Listed winner in La Persiana who herself is a half-sister to Grand Lodge, who William trained to win both the Dewhurst and the St James’ Palace Stakes.

William said: “I am delighted with that. She is a nice filly from a family I know well. She is still green and was babyish in the preliminaries but she was professional in the race.

“With another winter on her back she could make up into a decent filly and I hope she will get some ‘black type.’”