Fresh from the biggest moment in his fledgling Hong Kong career, David Eustace hopes to add to his Happy Valley success when first-up winner Swift Ascend headlines his team of three runners on Wednesday night.

The 32-year-old handler is still on a high after bagging his first double in the city on Sunday, courtesy of the impressive Charity Gain and $42.8 outsider Young Emperor.

Turning his attention to the city circuit’s next programme, Eustace boasts two strong chances in Swift Ascend and Speedy Fortune while French three-year-old Hailtothevictors will make his debut.

Swift Ascend delivered Eustace his first ever Hong Kong triumph with a barnstorming first-up win on October 9 and now steps up to Class Three level in the Hing Yip Handicap (1,200m).

On his stable debut and return from a ligament injury, the Lord Kanaloa five-year-old charged from the second half of the field under Zac Purton to score by a length and a quarter.

“He’s got to make that step to Class Three, hasn’t he?” Eustace said.

“I felt he had to do it fairly tough in his win. Zac had to make his run from quite a long way out. He goes up in grade but down in weight. He’s not a big horse, so he’ll probably benefit from that.”

A Canterbury winner when known as Citizenship for Eustace and Ciaron Maher, Swift Ascend made light work of the 135-pound top weight first up and drops to 126 on Wednesday.

With Purton committed to riding the progressive Divano in his first Happy Valley start, Swift Ascend will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni and jumps from barrier two.

The quality field of 12 to close Wednesday night’s eight-race card also features recent Valley winners Super Joy N Fun and Scotch Tycoon, as well as last-start runner-up Gustosisimo.

Eustace also has high hopes for Speedy Fortune, who shapes as a strong chance in the Class Five Cheung Shun Handicap (1,000m) after making an impression on his stable debut.

The Pariah five-year-old loomed as the winner but was run down late by Douglas Whyte’s Double Show when beaten a length in second.

“His return was great,” Eustace said. “He did everything to win really, but Douglas’ horse was strong late. He’s got to take him on again but meets him better at the weights.

“Often those races come down to the draw. He’s drawn well and he’s trained on great.”

Speedy Fortune gets the advantage of a five-pound swing on Double Show and has drawn the inside gate, with Atzeni set to take the ride again.

He will be chasing his first victory since the only success of his career, which came in May last year for former trainer John Size.

Eustace will start the night with Hailtothevictors in the second section of the Class Four Bedford Handicap (1,650m), but he is tempering expectations for the French-bred three-year-old.

“He’s a nice horse, but I think it would be wrong to be overly bullish for his first start at the Valley,” Eustace said of his newcomer, who has produced only moderate performances in three lead-up trials.

“We like him for the rest of the season and it wouldn’t be a complete surprise if he puts in a bold showing.”

In-form jockey Vincent Ho Chak-yiu teams up with Hailtothevictors after booting home Charity Gain for Eustace on Sunday.