John Moore had the weight of numbers and he got the upset result in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy and the beautifully-bred colt Admiration might have laid down a foundation for what to do when he grows up.
With stable jockey Darren Beadman sidelined indefinitely, Moore is calling more often on Brett Prebble for riding duties and he credited the Australian's vigour in the finish as vital in staving off hot favourite Glorious Days by a neck.
'Brett made the difference for sure and he really got the job done,' Moore said. 'We've always had high hopes for Admiration but he is a bit colty and he needs someone like Brett who is strong in a finish and really makes him do it.'
Stewards had a look at the videos of the finish as, for the second time in a row, Prebble was on a winner who came out and contacted Glorious Days in the closing stages - Lucky Nine had done the same to the John Size-trained Glorious Days in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup before surviving a protest - but the panel decided a protest was not needed.
'The margin was closer last time but Glorious Days did get quite a hefty bump today,' said Size. 'It may have cost him the race but the neck margin probably worked against him getting a protest.'
At a price tag of AU$625,000 (HK$5 million), Moore's son George purchased Admiration for owner Hui Sai-fun from the 2009 Sydney Easter draft of Widden Stud, which acted as agent for the Encosta De Lago colt's breeders, and that stud farm has shown hints of interest in having him back one day.