Forget that last-start bomb-out when Ejaz flopped and finished last in that race won by dead-heaters January and Aniki.

It was totally out of character. Even that man in the saddle thought so, too.

Manoel Nunes noted Ejaz did not respond to his riding and he reckoned his mount did not appreciate the firm underfoot conditions.

He must be right as Ejaz is better than that.

Indeed, he has been touted in some quarters as a contender for the big races coming up.

They are right, you know.

Not many gallopers can win four races from just seven starts – which is what Ejaz has done since making his Kranji debut way back on July 24, 2022.

Yes, he has been sparingly raced.

His former trainer Michael Clements sent him out to face the starter just five times in 2022.

He won four of them, with the only blemish coming when he took third to Fadaboy in a Restricted Maiden race over 1,200m on debut.

He finished two and a half lengths behind the winner.