Often enough in recent years, the result of the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) has been cause for significant excitement with a view to bigger and better things later in the season.

The Golden Scenery’s victory in Sunday’s running of the season’s first Group race does not fit into that category.

While Golden Sixty, California Spangle and Beauty Generation (twice) have won the Celebration Cup on their way to victory in the Group One Hong Kong Mile less than three months later, it’s very, very unlikely The Golden Scenery will be following suit.

Trainer Tony Cruz said as much himself, admitting “I’m not very confident about him going up even further to Group Two or anything like that”.

The Golden Scenery has been a great horse for connections, there is no doubt about that, and has now won over HK$17 million in prize money, but the chances that we have just seen the seven-year-old’s career highlight seem high.

Outside The Golden Scenery, placegetters Taj Dragon and Healthy Happy are both well exposed at Group One level and have proven to be a level or two below the best.

The only galloper who looked like he could be on some sort of upwards spiral, $1.9 favourite Chiu Chow Spirit, wasn’t able to show his best after travelling wide for much of the contest under an Alexis Badel ride the French jockey may wish he could have again.

Three races later, the highly touted Young Champion failed to impress in the day’s second-richest contest, the Class Two Woodpecker Handicap (1,200m).

Labelled by trainer John Size “an exciting horse for a lot of people”, Young Champion did have excuses, however, with a scope showing a substantial amount of blood in his trachea and questions over the suitability of the yielding track.

Thankfully for racing fans, sandwiched in between was a performance that looked to possess some real substance.

While the strength of Wunderbar’s Class Three Tailorbird Handicap (1,200m) win under top weight in his first run since January is cause for excitement on its own, it’s the mouthwatering formlines and potential ceiling of this galloper that really have tongues wagging.

Beaten only once in six starts, Wunderbar’s defeat came at the hands of Mugen, a Group Three winner with a 110 rating who will be stepping out in this Sunday’s Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) in Japan.

Even better is the fact Wunderbar has twice beaten Ka Ying Rising, who has rocketed to a rating of 119 and is already considered by some to be among the world’s best sprinters. He’s certainly the early favourite for December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m).

While Wunderbar has work to do before he’ll be running in Group One company, it might not be that long before Zac Purton – who rode Wunderbar on Sunday and Ka Ying Rising in his opening-day romp two weeks ago – has a choice to make.

Sixty send-off stumper

While a social media post from Francis Lui Kin-wai on Friday raised hopes that we might see the veteran handler jump aboard Golden Sixty at his retirement ceremony on Sunday, in the end the fact he kept his feet firmly on the ground rather than channelling charismatic Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi really didn’t matter.

On a wet and dreary afternoon, there was a genuine buzz around the Sha Tin parade ring as fans said goodbye to their hero. It had the feel of a fitting farewell.

Mind boggling, however, was the fact Romantic Warrior was on the cover of the Jockey Club’s official race book, just like he was a week earlier.

It may be minor, but a little more attention to detail on such a significant day from an organisation with the resources of the Jockey Club certainly wouldn’t go astray.