John Size clung grimly to his three-win advantage in the trainers' championship last night, grinding out a double in response to a pair from Caspar Fownes as the two men edged clear of their rivals.
Fownes was the most dangerous on a night, which could easily have produced more than two winners as he finished second in another three races.
But Hurry Hurry Up (Olivier Doleuze) and Gun Pit (Tommy Berry) were the only ones with their heads in front on the line where it counted.
Size sent out just four runners, but was able to score with former English galloper Comeback Kid (Karis Teetan) on debut before head-case Master Sommelier responded to the touch of Joao Moreira to break his duck.
"I'm pleased to have given John another winner - this looks like a real battle down to the finish for the trainers' title," said Moreira after his first experience of Master Sommelier.
"Gee, he's a hard ride. He really doesn't help you at all, he pulls and runs sideways. I don't know what would have happened tonight if I had not been able to get to the lead on him and get across. If he's outside other horses, he looks a real handful."
That took Size to 56 wins and Fownes to 53, with another four away to Tony Cruz. And Fownes looked set to claw another back in the final race when Formula Won loomed to win, but found Eagle Power (Doleuze) too strong.
"The ride that Zac Purton's given Formula Won from barrier 13, he really deserved to win - that was the ride of the night. But the winner is a very good horse on this surface and just found enough," said Fownes, who is looking forward to the horse that three-year-old Gun Pit will become next season.
"I was never worried about him going to the dirt, he'll handle anything and he's a very progressive horse.
"He's quite a good sized horse, but still just a frame at this stage and he's going to develop and fill that frame through the summer break.
"Hopefully, he will strengthen up and improve enough to get him into the good four-year-old races because I think he will run a little further than the 1,650m tonight."
Eagle Power and Hurry Hurry Up gave Doleuze a winning double and the French rider was also focused on the trainers' championship duel.
"Tonight I won one for Caspar and I beat him in the last race, so I helped both trainers," he smiled.
"I won on Hurry Hurry Up earlier this season, my first winner of the season actually and I haven't been on him since. But he's very honest, tries hard and is tough."
Tough enough to have his 18th start for the season last night as a winning one and Fownes will doubtless continue with him as there are a surplus of dirt races still to go this term.
Jockey Hugh Bowman is not expected to be among the names when licensing approvals for next season's jockeys are announced today, but the Australian has really hit his straps for this stint.
He opened the card by landing Sledge Hammer for Danny Shum Chap-shing in the first then Goldland Dancer for Sean Woods in the second.
He looked unlucky not to make it three out of three on Unbeatable Guts in the third after being locked in behind the leader, and eventual winner Cheers Victories.
Bowman did more than his best in trying to get clear, bringing down a three-day careless riding charge in the process.
