The return to Happy Valley on Sunday was characterised by a surface that appeared to help horses on the front end, but how much of that was about tempo was the question that needed to be asked.
Most races were not quickly run, although the one race that was fast-run showed there was some assistance on the front end - not unusual on the A course - as the leaders crawled down the straight, but Pleasure Gains held on to win.
Perhaps the jockeys did not want to damage the new track, but tempos were careful all day, and even the winning performances mostly average, so it remains to be seen how the day's form will stand up.
Two horses that did defy the circumstances in the final race were owner mates Smart Man and Romantic Touch.
Smart Man we know well and the pleasing aspect of his finish from last into seventh was that he showed he could fire at Happy Valley where he had been disappointing in the past.
But Romantic Touch was more interesting at his local debut. A Group One juvenile winner at 1,600m in Australia, he lost form at three and that is probably what led to his sale into Benno Yung Tin-pang's yard.
His trials suggested he was going well enough, but charging home into fifth over an insufficient 1,200m surpassed all expectations and there looks a bit to work with in Romantic Touch off a rating of 85 as he rises in trip.
Another to indicate that all is well on his return from a break was Cour Valant, who had gate 11 over the 1,000m of the sixth race and got back to last early with cover.
Passing the 500m, the pace of the leading six runners picked up sharply and they got away from the rear group, but Cour Valant was stuck behind the second bunch.
As a result, he could not improve in the race and it left him too much to do to make any impact, but he did close off strongly in the run down the straight when clear.
