There really wasn't any second way to slice the Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile on Sunday after Beauty Flash's hollow win - there is your Derby favourite, fellow aspirants, now what have you got?
Historically, he was the most impressive winner of the race since Olympic Express simply rounded them up from the rear to win the Classic Mile eight years ago, then did much the same in the Derby.
Opponents will take heart from knowing there is some water to flow under the bridge between now and March 14, though the river isn't exactly breaking its banks and you query Tony Cruz's four-year-old at your peril.
It can be argued that the chestnut got the front very easily and didn't have any nuisances once there, but the sectional times of the race suggest he didn't exactly walk. In fact, his first 800 metres was run faster than average, with the gelding then getting a breather around the circle from the 800m to the straight before he kept going at a good speed to the line. He certainly did not fly down the straight, but then he had no need to dig down for anything more as the chasers were always at a respectable distance.
That's the question the Derby will answer but probably not the Derby Trial - how much was still in the tank?
Considering the way that 1,800m races are conducted at Sha Tin, with the long steady run down the back straight for the first half, Beauty Flash must surely win the Derby Trial too and that might not answer any questions that might remain.