Chagall could provide the key to tomorrow afternoon's feature event, the American Club Challenge Cup, as far as Triple Trio players are concerned.
The David Oughton-trained gelding put in a tremendous run first time out this season when making up a stack of ground to run fourth to Sea Jade over 1,400 metres at Sha Tin.
Chagall was only beaten three-quarters of a length and what made the run really good was that Wendyll Woods rode a most cunning and polished race on the winner.
Sea Jade loves to lead. Chagall has to be ridden quietly and produced at the death.
Woods had to work early on Sea Jade to get to the front but then he slowed them all down rounding the bottom bend before sprinting for home off the corner.
That tactical brilliance by Woods won Sea Jade's connections the race and would not have helped Chagall's cause at all as the split times of 13.8, 21.7, 24.4 and 23.5 seconds testify.