Scoring a resounding debut victory at Belmont in New York overnight was speedy Foxwedge colt Star Empire, who runs for Australian owner breeder Mrs Belinda Bateman, who also raced his sire Foxwedge with her late husband Dr Edmund Bateman.

A 40,000 guinea purchase from the Tattersalls Foal Sale in 2014 for De Burgh Equine/ James Harron Bloodstock, Star Empire is trained by Wesley Ward.

He showed brilliant speed from the gates to race up and share the lead before dashing clear on turning for home.

Star Empire powered to the line to win the $100,000 five furlong juvenile maiden on the dirt by six and a half lengths. Watch the race here.

“I know it sounds a far way off but this is the type of horse that can win the Breeders Cup Juvenile. I genuinely believe that. He’s just a really talented 2yo and it’s more about him, than what I’ve done with,” said trainer Wesley Ward.

“Obviously the late Edmund Bateman raced Foxwedge with his wife Belinda, and was keen to give him every chance in the Northern Hemisphere,” explained James Harron.

“As part of that mission and working closely with Hubie de Burgh we secured three Foxwedge colts as foals at Tattersalls in 2014 for the Bateman family and sent them to Wesley Ward, with the pipe-dream that one of them might make it to Royal Ascot, where Wesley obviously has such a strong record.

” As such it is very pleasing to see Star Empire make such a promising start to his career, and a trip to Royal Ascot will now be under strong consideration providing he comes through the run well.”

Star Empire is the third winner for Celestial Empire, an unraced US bred Empire Maker mare from the family of Group I winners Golden Ticket, Well Chosen and Telling.

A Group I winning son of Fastnet Rock, the Newgate Farm based Foxwedge has sired seven winners in total, three in Australia, two in New Zealand and now one each in the UK and the US.

Foxwedge stands at a fee of $22,000 this spring.