Declan Carroll hopes Kimbali's victory at Beverley tonight can spark a midsummer renaissance for the Sledmere handler.
Carroll's yard has not been quite as prolific this term as in recent years, but his eye for a bargain-buy remains as sharp as ever.
After all, Kimbali was purchased from out of David Evans' stables for just £6,000 after he easily won a Leicester claimer 16 days ago.
And the five-year-old gelding reaped immediate dividends with a cute victory in the opening seven-and-a-half-furlong claimer.
Carroll said: "We've been a bit slow, to be honest, but we've not got as many horses in as last year so that has something to do with it.
"Hopefully, we can get going again after this as winners are what we all get up for in the morning."
Luke Leadbitter has gained many admirers this term and again shone brightly beneath threatening clouds with a perfectly delivered challenge aboard Kimbali.
Despite an allegedly tough draw in stall 12, the 6-1 was cleverly guided into contention deep inside the final furlong and was kept gamely up to his work to deny Whispered Times by half a length.
Carroll added: "He can be very difficult at home – he's very tricky on the gallops – and Luke is the only one who can ride him because he throws everyone else off."
Relief also enveloped the winner's enclosure after the EBF Aunt Bessie's Yorkshire Pudding Novice Stakes as She's A Worldie gave Bryan Smart a first juvenile triumph of the season.
The well-bred Kodiac filly backed up a pleasing debut at Musselburgh last month with an all-the-way success under Paul Mulrennan.
Smart said: "She's very quick and I'm just glad to get that first two-year-old winner as it's been a long time.
"We'll have a little look around for another race now but I think she'll be all right."
Relight My Fire similarly looks poised for an agreeable summer after he recorded a third Beverley victory in the seven-and-a-half-furlong handicap.
The Mail's 7-1 NAP, trained by Tim Easterby, was always in a handy position as Zaitsev set a ferocious gallop in an equally ferocious downpour.
Ollie Pears' trailblazer only buckled late on as Relight My Fire and 25-1 outsider Berlusca fought out a tense finish, with the former taking top honours by half a length.
William Easterby, the Great Habton trainer's son, said: "They went a furious gallop and that seemed to help him."
The pace was a little more sedate in the Swan Industrial Drives Handicap, but that in no way proved a stumbling block for Eddiemaurice, who routed the field with contemptuous ease.
