Packing Hermond finished out of the placings in Sunday's quality Class 2 rehearsal for the Classic Mile, but his performance was the day's best and charged him up our list of the top 4yos to be among the lead players.
Although he had built a fine record of 5 starts for 4 wins and a second, Packing Hermod's Winning Factor ratings had not been outstanding, all earned in circumstances not conducive to posting a big rating.
But his record of getting the job done did suggest he would produce a bigger figure at some stage and that happened on Sunday, posting a 94 figure, even though beaten home by two of the other leading Classic Mile chances, Rubylot and Johannes Brahms, with another, Divano, very unlucky back in the field.
With a big handicap weight and wide draw, there was not a lot going for him pre-race, but Packing Hermod  did well before producing the day's best finishing speed to get into fourth.
Aside from Ka Ying Rising - announced as an unlikely Classic Mile runner by trainer David Hayes - stablemate Rubylot has been our top rated 4yo since September, so it was no surprise to see him prevail, while Johannes Brahms yet again had very little go right for him but remained competitive. Off his overseas form, he has scope to rate higher than the 90 that has been his best in HK so far.
While there was Classic Mile talk around the two Class 3 mile races too, the only horses to produce Classic Mile-competitive figures in those races were Mickley - 91 and, arguably, unlucky not to finish a touch closer - and Fast Network a 91 at his first attempt at 1600m.
Official entries for the Classic Mile, the first of the 4yo series races, will be released next Monday, January 20.