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John O’Shea’s time as Darley’s Head Trainer has commenced ideally with Alaska making all for a maiden win at Sandown.

Saddling up just one runner at both Warwick Farm and Sandown on Wednesday, John O’Shea’s commencement as Darley Head Trainer was largely expected to be a low key one.

Second favourite behind fellow Darley-raced runner Maroon, Alaska kicked things off on a winning note in the Heading Out Hair and Beauty Handicap (1400m) at Sandown.

The Medaglia D’Oro colt was fast into stride for jockey Steven Arnold and never looked back, making all for a long neck success.

“It was fantastic,” Stable Foreman David Charles said.

“It is a great effort back at the stable.

“It has been very smooth. We’ve been very happy with how the transition has progressed. John [O’Shea] has had a chance to get around the horses over the last couple of weeks/months.

“John was down here last week with us. We had a good three days together going through our processes and he was really happy.

“He watched this horse do his last piece of work and he was quite confident today that he would run well.”

Alaska during his short career to date has predominantly raced at stakes level and on Wednesday relished dropping back in grade.

“He flew the stalls which made it easy,” jockey Steven Arnold said.

“I just rolled forward and he switched off really well in front. He relaxed nicely and down the hill I let him stride and he probably won the race there.

“He is only a little fella so he probably has to grow a little bit. He is a nice type of horse and I can see improvement in him.

“It has been great riding for the Snowden’s and I’ve found John really good so far.”

Alaska is a half brother to stakes winners Kuroshio and Believe’n’succeed who herself is the dam of star kiwi filly Bounding.