John Size's Ensuring flew under the radar to some extent last season and never really carried much reputation but he goes in the black book after his fourth resuming from the break on Sunday.
Ensuring's three wins and four seconds last season saw him rise in the ratings from 70 to almost triple figures, but there is still more to come, even though he was never touted as highly as some contemporaries who have exhibited lesser talent.
That should change this season as the son of New Approach has potential, perhaps not to win Group One races, but to dance around the edges of them and earn some nice beaten cheques and perhaps pick up a Group Three handicap.
Nothing about his return discouraged that view as the four-year-old got back to the rear from a wide draw over the insufficient 1,600m, then rattled to the line in a finishing speed only slightly inferior to the winner, Secret Weapon, to whom Ensuring conceded 10 pounds.
This was a race where making ground was not easy due to the modest tempo, but Ensuring really applied himself well and, considering we know that he will be better over 1,800m and longer, this was a strong indicator of a really good preparation ahead.
Two races earlier, another stayer coming off a totally different profile, former French Derby fifth Gonna Run caught the eye, too, just missing out on third behind Amber Dragon.
In six runs last season, Caspar Fownes-trained Gonna Run was not disgraceful, but certainly not up to the job as he took time acclimatising and drifted down the ratings into Class Three. His first run back didn't really advertise him either, but Sunday's effort to run on strongly over 1,400m did.
Stewards quizzed Vincent Ho Chak-yiu on his riding of Gonna Run in the final stages, in particular whether he might have been more vigorous, but ultimately accepted the jockey's view that the four-year-old didn't require more whip.
This, too, was a sprint home so Gonna Run's effort to just about match the winner and Happy Surveys in the final section was a nice run and he looks close to a win.
