No Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) winner has ever gone onto taste Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) glory in the same season.

That seems very unlikely to change in 2024.

As solid as Ensued’s win was on Sunday, the chances of him dethroning Romantic Warrior in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) or taking down the inevitable raiding party in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) are slim.

As pleased as John Size was to land the Group Three prize with a galloper who’s been nothing if not honest since joining his stable, he certainly wasn’t getting carried away about what lies ahead.

“Winning that race is going to help him qualify for one of the [HKIR features] – the 2,000m or the 2,400m. Whichever one is not busy, they’ll probably put him in,” Size said of Ensued, who was penalised 18 points for his weekend win and now sits on a mark of 104.