Freshly blinkered Schubert (3-1 favourite) sounded a Hong Kong Derby warning with a fighting victory in the featured Hong Kong Together Cup that left champion trainer David Hayes wreathed in smiles.
The very popular Australian had to sweat through an ultra-tight photo finish before Schubert's number went up. But it was a run over 1,600 metres that should leave connections thinking positively of that important $7 million Derby date on March 7.
Schubert held off topweight Fastest Star (8-1) by the slimmest of margins with, significantly, two lengths back to Man Of Honour (4-1) who was best backed to beat the winner.
There was plenty of merit in the win as champion jockey Basil Marcus - who 30 minutes later completed a back-to-back double - had to get him out from among horses on the rail before putting in his telling challenge.
Arguably, Schubert lost some ground, so the eventual victory was all the sweeter for Hayes who said: 'He finished third last time and there was a bit of criticism around for the run.
'The blinkers were obviously a help to him. He had worn them in Australia but we held off using them here because he had been running well enough. He has always had the habit of missing the start, but he did jump with them today.