David Eustace struck with the first of what is tipped to be many Hong Kong winners when Swift Ascend scored an explosive win at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

A prolific Group One winner in partnership with Ciaron Maher in Australia before making the move to Hong Kong, Eustace celebrated his maiden victory with his sixth runner in the city courtesy of a brilliant ride by champion jockey Zac Purton.

The 32-year-old handler, who registered seconds with his other two Wednesday night runners, Speedy Fortune and Charity Gain, paid tribute to his stable staff for helping him hit the ground running.

“It’s obviously a great thrill,” Eustace said.

“I’m just delighted for the team. My assistant Cash [Lee Tsz-wai] built a fantastic team of staff that have worked really hard the last few months. They deserve many plaudits.”

Eustace was also elated to celebrate the triumph with his cousin Charlie Oughton, whose father David’s training career in Hong Kong helped inspire Eustace’s ambitions to follow in his footsteps.

“Great to have my cousin here, David Oughton’s son. It’s really special to have family here for my first win,” he said.

“Great to get the first win, but it’s a long season ahead.”

Sent off the $3.1 favourite in the first section of the Class Four Harbour View Handicap (1,200m), Swift Ascend gave Eustace cause for concern when he was shuffled further back than anticipated in ninth position.

However, Purton peeled the Lord Kanaloa five-year-old to the outside just before the turn and he let down with a powerful sprint to hit the front at the 150m.

He scored by a length and a quarter from Gimme Five, with the victory also giving Purton a big thrill.

“It’s good. It’s a nice feeling when you get someone off the mark and it’s an even better feeling when you deliver their first winner in Hong Kong,” Purton said after sealing a treble at the Valley.

“It’s special. I know what it feels like, I know what it means. I’ll be on his wall forever – that’s even better.”

Swift Ascend added his first Hong Kong win to his Canterbury triumph pre-import when trained by Eustace and Maher.

“He won for me in Australia and he’s now won a race for me here. I don’t think anyone could have predicted that,” Eustace said. “I think the horse can go on.”

Eustace was the only trainer yet to get off the mark this term for just one race, following Jamie Richards’ breakthrough success with Gallant Valour in the Class Four HKEX Cup (1,200m).

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Gallant Valour narrowly prevailed from Tactical Command and Happy Park in a thrilling three-way photo finish.

“It’s been a bit of a frustrating start to the season to be honest, we haven’t had a lot of luck,” Richards said after saluting with his 40th runner of the campaign.

“Last year I tried to start fast and it didn’t work and this year I just thought I’d take my time a little bit, but I didn’t expect to have to wait this long to get the first win on the board.”

Purton’s other two winners, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Super Unicorn and Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Aurora Lady, saluted by a combined 10 lengths.

“The margin was a little bit surprising,” Lor said after Super Unicorn bolted in by five and three-quarter lengths – the biggest winning margin so far this term.

“When he got to the front in the straight, Zac whipped him once and he went ‘whoosh’.”

Ng boosted his trainers’ championship lead with a double. I Can was his 11th winner this term after he claimed the Class Three Pedder Handicap (1,650m) under Andrea Atzeni.

David Hayes also prepared a double courtesy of Dragon Delight (Ellis Wong Chi-wang) and Chateauneuf (Karis Teetan).