David Hall has already turned around the fortunes of horses such as Beethoven, Jubiloso and Bodacious this season and his next success story looks certain to be Absolute Champion, who made an impressive return to racing at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Australian Group Two winner had been racing well this term without winning but judging by the way he hit the line to finish fifth to Regency Horse at his first run for Hall, he looks set to chalk up a success before the season is out.
The Marauding gelding was taken back to the tail of the field in an effort to overcome the outside alley and as they reached the 400m mark he had only one runner behind him and was a conservative seven lengths from the leaders.
Brett Prebble went between runners in search of a passage and Absolute Champion picked up very well with 200m remaining before again being short on room over the final stages.
His effort to end up just over a length from the winner, considering he wasn't able to be fully tested, was outstanding with the other positive being that his previously wayward habits were missing.
Even though there was under two lengths covering the first eight home, the event is likely to prove a very strong form race over coming weeks.
While the effort of Regency Horse was enormous after being posted on a limb throughout, his stablemate Kindacross is gradually living up to the form he showed as a juvenile in New Zealand and his winning turn is very near.