Vincent Ho Chak-yiu got his season really rolling with a treble in consecutive races at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening, headlined by the remarkable win of Speed Dragon in the Class Two Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1,800m).

The Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained six-year-old has been plagued by injury, with a right pelvis injury and more recently a ligament injury cutting short his last two Hong Kong seasons.

Making his return, Speed Dragon was always travelling well in the last pair and when the gaps opened in the straight, Ho took the brave route towards the inside to lash home and get up by a short head to deny the sensationally brown-lamped Californiatotality.

It was a snippet of the talent that the son of Darci Brahma possesses, and Ho is hoping he will be able to build on it in an injury-free campaign.

“He trialled very well, so I actually expected him to be very competitive, which he was. It was great that he could win for the owner. Everything went well for him, the opening on the inside was perfect,” said Ho.

“I think [he can progress further], it’s still early in the season and he will be fitter after this race tonight.”

Speed Dragon was the second leg of Ho’s consecutive wins, with the Casper Fownes-trained Mr Desira’s success in the third section of the Class Four Fung Mo Handicap (1,200m) kick-starting his big night.

The pair never looked in any real danger until a late but ultimately futile surge by Find My Love, who made it interesting on the line.

The brilliant night for the 35-year-old Ho concluded when King Miles fended off a late challenge by Storm Rider to win the Class Three Hok Yuen Handicap (1,200m), which also gave a double to trainer Lui.

There was also a double for ‘King of the Valley’ Fownes, with his night kicking off when Dancing Classics was given a pearler by apprentice Ellis Wong Chi-wang to win the first section of the Fung Mo Handicap.

Jumping from barrier one, Dancing Classics sat in the box seat throughout before being peeled off the inside to take the lead at the 200m pole. He immediately looked vulnerable to Rewarding Buddy, but Wong galvanised his mount to cling on by a short head.

Elsewhere on Wednesday night, David Eustace finally broke through for his first victory of the season when Apolar Fighter lashed home to win the Class Five Ngau Chi Wan (1,650m).

The 34-year-old had endured a frustrating start to the campaign, but he would have been all smiles as his five-year-old also got the monkey off his back at the 20th attempt under Jerry Chau Chun-lok.

Settled well in midfield on the rail, Apolar Fighter was all dressed up with nowhere to go as the field came into the straight. When the gap finally came at the 200m pole, the pair surged into the lead in a matter of strides and burst clear to win by three and three-quarter lengths.

It was a success that was long in the making for both Eustace and Apolar Fighter, but one that surprised his trainer.

“The horse has been running well and just been hitting the crossbar,” said Eustace. “He’s shown plenty of promise, I thought he would win before tonight in Class Five – hopefully he can get a bit of confidence now. Jerry hasn’t ridden much for us but it was a great ride by him.

“It’s nice to get a winner, most of mine have taken a run to get going so hopefully we can kick on now as a stable.”