Mark Johnston kicked off Ascot's 'Hong Kong' day by doing what he had done 24 hours earlier - saddling the winner of the first race.
Victory came from Mana d'Argent in the Sha Tin Handicap, which saw high-flying apprentice Keith Dalgleish gain his first success at the Berkshire course.
Mana d'Argent was stepping up markedly in distance for the 12-furlong contest, having previously run over six and seven furlongs.
But he saw the trip out better than any of his 12 rivals, leading two furlongs out and, despite wandering, galloping home three and a half lengths clear of Zibeline, with Inching Closer a neck adrift in third.
'It just shows we're not infallible,' chuckled Johnston as he reflected how he had taken the bold move to turn Mana d'Argent, whose form this year he felt was disappointing, into a stayer.
He continued: 'It wasn't a case of running him over the wrong trip to get a handicap mark. Nothing like it.
'He was running good races last year over six furlongs and running off a much higher mark than he has now.
'But things were not going right and so we took the plunge, as he's by Ela-Mana-Mou and is bred to stay.
'He stayed every yard today and we may even step him up to a mile and six.'
Johnston has no immediate plans for Fruits of Love, who was forced to miss the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond stakes on Saturday due to lameness.
'He's having an easy time and we'll give it time to settle down,' he said.
