He will be three years old in April, he has been burning the exercise track in the mornings, he is unbeaten in his career thus far, he is imported, and he was expected to win yesterday’s feature race, which he did with no worries. He is Stranger Danger.

This was the dark bay gelding’s first run this season after being successful in three starts during his two-year-old campaign.

Stranger Danger, racing against older horses for the first time in the Ash Wednesday Trophy — an Overnight Allowance event run over six- and-a-half furlongs, gave an exciting performance which left the tongues of many scribes wagging.

Regular jockey Anthony Thomas was able to get Stanger Danger moving prominently with the early leaders but after a brief acquaintance with colleagues on the front end, Thomas put through Stranger Danger leaving the four furlong marker and the win was done and dusted.

On entering the straight, Stranger Danger showed some greenness as he started to drift a bit to the stand-side, but Thomas quickly straightened him out and using hands only during the entire six-and-a-half furlongs, simply guided the American importe to the winning post.

“He has been working very well in the mornings and was able to produce on race day, for which I am particularly pleased.

“Now, Stranger Danger is in Open Allowance where his mettle is going to be really tested.

“So, let’s see how he develops, as only time will tell how good he really is. A good run, a marvellous victory, and now we wait,” a smiling, Wayne DaCosta, trainer of the gelding, said in a post-race interview.

Stranger Danger clocked an impressive time of 1:17.3 for the distance with splits of 23.1 x 46.1 x 1:17.3. Bred by Buffin out of the Dehere mare Casual Kiss, Stranger Danger took his lifetime earnings to over $2.1 million.

Saratoga Sight (Aaron Chatrie) finished in second place six lengths behind with Hey Champ (Raddesh Roman) third and Winter Is Coming (Abigail Able) fourth.

It was the second winner on the card for Thomas as the champion jockey opened proceedings on the holiday programme with Reassurance for trainer Byron Davis over six furlongs (1,200m).

Also with two winners on the 11-race programme was journeyman jockey Oneil Mullings, who won aboard Sebastian for trainer Philip Feanny in the seventh race over seven-and-a-half furlongs ,and Reign Over All for trainer Johnny Wilmot in the ninth race over four furlongs (400m) straight.

There was a fortuitous double for jockey Hakeem Pottinger, as after winning aboard Powerofgiving for trainer Steven Todd in the fourth, Pottinger got a chance ride on A Seh Soup after declared ride Dane Nelson fell from his mount Crimson in the seventh race.

It was a special raceday for young apprentice Anthony Allen, who started his riding career in September of last year. Allen rode his first, Makhi for trainer Phillip Lee in the 10th race.

Ten races are on offer on Saturday next.