Ron Harris has never been scared to ask his horses plenty of questions and Secret Witness is set to turn out again 24 hours later after his win in the William Birch & Sons Construction Stakes.
Having only run at Ascot on Saturday, the 14-1 chance burst clear under James Doyle and held on by half a length from Baby Strange and Fast Shot.
Doyle said: "The plan was to ride a patient enough race and creep into it and it worked out well.
"He travelled brilliantly and I've almost ended up getting there too soon as the ones in front of me just stopped.
"I just had to edge out as I didn't want to disappoint him and he's done it nicely.
"He idled a bit close to the line."
Harris said: "He's better in a big field. He got a great tow into the race, but James went a bit too soon really because he idles in front.
"He loved the ground and he's come on a lot from his run the other day. He'll run again tomorrow - there's no reason why not. He ran twice in two days at Doncaster last year.
"He's so laid back, you don't know how he is at home.
"When the owner, who now lives in York, saw what price he was, he ran off quickly so I'd imagine he backed him!"
Gatewood overcame his relative inexperience to come out on top in the Infinity Tyres Stakes.
The son of Galileo went into this competitive handicap with just three runs behind him last year but proved too strong for his rivals.
Suits Me ensured a good pace from the start and David Barron's charge kept up the gallop until headed by Gatewood (13-2) just under two furlongs out.
The John Gosden-trained four-year-old hung under pressure for William Buick towards Suits Me's stablemate Sirvino briefly but still kept on admirably.
He drew away close home to win by a length and a half from Romeo Montague with Sirvino three-quarters of a length away in third.
Backers of the 4-1 favourite Flag Officer knew their fate early on when he was pulled up by Frankie Dettori. Sky Bet and Paddy Power are both refunding all win and each-way singles on the horse.
Buick said: "He had good form last year and he impressed me today. "My plan was to sit in behind the pace but he half reared as the stalls opened and I was further back than I wanted to be.
"But we went a really good gallop and I was afraid I was getting there too soon as he picked up so well coming into the straight.
"He's done it nicely in the end and he's probably got more left. It's beautiful ground - no excuses."
Gosden said: "That was very nice. He had a harder race than I would have wanted. It was his first run after a long break.
"He wandered a bit, but I hope there's a bit more to come.
"The good thing about George Strawbridge (owner) is that he's a very patient man and when he had problems last year, he told me to give him all the time he needed.
"It looks like we're finally getting to race on some decent ground and these could be the first true races of the season."
Marcus Tregoning had a welcome winner when Mulaqen ran away with the Constant Security Stakes under Hanagan.
The 8-1 chance won eased down by two and a quarter lengths from Mica Mika.
"He was a bit fresh but when I got a lead he settled. I don't know about Ascot but he'll improve a good bit for that," said Hanagan.
Declan Carroll's Lastchancelucas was a 100-1 winner on debut two weeks ago at Pontefract and followed up at 8-1 in the ripleycollection.com EBF Novice Stakes.
A first ride on the Knavesmire for the 7lb claimer Jason Hart, he held off the promising Mick Easterby newcomer Hoofalong by half a length.
"He's a real two-year-old and we might go for the Woodcote at Epsom (on Derby day) or he could go for the National Stakes at Sandown," said Carroll.
"Jason rode him as he has done a lot of work on him. He came to me from Mark Johnston's."
Hanagan doubled on for his old boss Richard Fahey on the well-backed 5-1 favourite Baccarat in the McArthurglen's York Designer Outlet Stakes.
"He's not the finished article and he'll get further," said Fahey.
"He did well to win from that draw (14) and it's nice for Sir Robert Ogden (owner) as he can't be here because his 98-year-old mother died last night. That's why Paul had the armband on."
