Trainer Tony Cruz described three-year-old sprinter Peniaphobia as "a Group horse in waiting" after the gelding proved he was no one-trick pony by winning the Hong Kong Lions Cup down the straight course at Sha Tin on Monday.
Peniaphobia was the first leg of a Cruz-Douglas Whyte double, sealed by the pair just 30 minutes later when Majestic Anthem made his dirt debut a successful one.
Peniaphobia had been hugely impressive winning at Happy Valley over 1,000m, coming from a long way back, at his third local start, but the switch to the straight 1,000m at Sha Tin was a question, as was having to give weight away to his older, more experienced rivals.
But none of that mattered after Whyte slotted in behind heavily-backed Pure Force then ran over the top of him in the final 100m.
"Peniaphobia came from the UK with four starts for three wins and a second, and he's a good horse and he's proving it," Cruz said.
"He's a horse who is waiting for big races next season, a potential Group horse who will keep on improving. He's very correct and sound - and by correct I mean he has a very good character to him."
It was a second thrill in a row for first-time owner, Huang Kai-wen, who has ambitions on high grade races and might have the horse to do it.
"The people with this horse are lovely people but new owners and they were a bit nervous today," Cruz said. "They would love to spend big money to buy really good horses and I think, as he matures, this one will be Group standard. He looks like he will run 1,200m, but he's a real sprinting type, so at this stage of his career I'll be happy to keep him at 1,000m."
Whyte said he was reluctant to burden the youngster with too many claims on the future, but said he did the job in good style and was "clearly going higher in the ratings" than Monday's Class Three.
"He's a nice enough horse, he had weight to carry and got it done. But I always prefer to let horses work through their grades before saying too much about them," Whyte said.
"But he did it well. I jumped with them then just came back half a length and I was able to get over behind the good speed on my outside and on the back of Pure Force, who brought me into the race beautifully. Peniaphobia applied himself well with the weight and I think when he does go to 1,200m, he'll be even better."
Many trainers give their successful early season horses a midseason break and, to the unknowing eye, that looked the case with Majestic Anthem. The four-year-old had won three times early in the term, but was having his first run for two months on Monday and his first on the all-weather as he made it four for the season.
"And he's not done yet," said Whyte. "The draw looked awkward on paper, so I found the rail early then got a dream run through into midfield, came out at the 400m and the race was over when we straightened up. He loved this surface and he could win again if the right dirt race presents itself."
But Cruz said the two-month break between runs had not been planned, but due to the sudden death of owner Mark Tam Man-wai's mother.
"So he has been out of town and the horse didn't run. But I expected Majestic Anthem to perform well today - he loves any surface at all from firm to soft to the dirt - and the whole family was able to be here and enjoy this excitement," said Cruz, who has a long history with the family, having prepared 1997 Gold Cup winner Deauville for the same owners.
