While most thought newly-licensed trainer Ricardo Le Grange would bring up his first career winner at his first day at the office on January 1 given the strong team of 13 horses he was sending out, he in the end kept the champagne on ice until the second day with Southern Dragon.

Swiss Ace, the successful NZ-based sire bred in Australia by the imported Doncaster Handicap winner Secret Savings, was so unloved as a youngster that he was sold twice for pocket money prices.

Ace King rewarded trainer Theo Kieser’s and his owners Titanium Racing Stable’s patience with a gutsy winning debut on Friday night.

Trainer Theo Kieser was a little concerned when Super Winner came back a “different” horse after his Korean trip, but is glad it has not taken long for his stable star to bounce back to his normal self.

Once touted as one of the more forward two-year-olds of his batch this year, Ace King never got a chance to prove the hype after he was held back by an untimely injury, but the wait is nearing its end.