The winter months might not seem as harsh to John Oxx as they will to others after the likeable performance of Rayeni in the Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown.
Oxx already has Sea The Stars, favourite for the Derby, at his Currabeg stables and now has a live contender for the Guineas with the unbeaten Rayeni (7-2), owned by the Aga Khan.
Before the race it looked as if it would be his stablemate Vitruvian Man who would be making the waves as he was the choice of stable jockey Mick Kinane and was sent off the 11-10 favourite.
The result was never in any serious doubt, though, as Fran Berry, challenging Pat Smullen for the jockeys championship, guided his mount to a length-and-a-half success.
Oxx said of the winner: "He's a very nice horse, he's very quiet at home and has never put a foot wrong. We didn't expect him to win first time out at Naas and he's improving all the time.
"He must have that ground though."
Of Vitruvian Man, he added: "We were drawn in stall one and on account of that, we decided to make the running with him. But he didn't like being in front and we'll ride him from behind in future.
"Both are finished for the season now."
Oxx also introduced another nice type in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden when Space Telescope (4-1) won on his debut, with Kinane this time in the saddle.
Smullen extended his lead in the jockeys' title race with a double thanks to Casual in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden and Famous Name, who bounced back to form in the Jockey Club of Turkey Trigo Stakes.
Both horses are trained by Dermot Weld.
Fresh from breaking his duck at the Breeders' Cup on Ralph Beckett's Muhannak, Smullen had no trouble guiding home Casual (5-1), a nice-looking Nayef colt who was making his debut.
William Hill were subsequently impressed enough to give the Prince Khalid Abdullah-owned filly a 33-1 quote for next year's 1000 Guineas and a 25-1 quote for the Oaks.
Famous Name (11-10 favourite), just touched off in the French Derby earlier in the season, also returned to form after two slightly below-par runs.
"He's a proper horse and that was a nice performance," said Weld.
"That's it for the year for him now, he'll come back next year and we'll hope to win a Group One with him.
"He ran too keen in France last time and the horse is still not fully furnished."
Smullen now leads Berry 83-79, with Johnny Murtagh back on 77 winners. William Hill now make Smullen 8-15 favourite to win the title with Berry at 15-8 and Murtagh 10-1.
Young Paul Townend was also in double form on Espartano (14-1) and Tango Foxtrot (10-1) at combined odds of 164-1.