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Red Dragon has not taken long to justify his status as a blackbooker following a first win in Saturday’s $75,000 Restricted Maiden (1400m).

Punted down to solid $11 favouritism, the Kuah Cheng Tee-trained galloper gave punters something to cheer about after Emergency Acceptor Wind Of Dubai (Zyrul Nor Azman) scored at $59 odds in the first race, the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race (1400m).

Twice runner-up at Restricted Maiden and Novice level in three previous starts, Red Dragon  certainly looked like he would land a few decent bets this time around when Simon Kok Wei Hoong got busy on him at the 400m.

Travelling one-off in fifth place, Red Dragon relished the fast tempo set by leader Dabble (Matthew Kellady) to present with a stiff challenge three wide at the top of the straight, albeit a little wayward in his execution - as a three-year-old at only his fourth start can be.

But once Kok got him back on an even keel, he displayed great professionalism inside the last 200m as he gathered in the leader before foiling a late charge from Northern Star (Koh Teck Huat) by one length.

Dabble did well to finish on board for the first time, one length away in third. Red Dragon clocked 1min 23.61secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.

Thanks to his two previous placings, the son of Redwood has now made close to $70,000 in prizemoney for the Red Dragon Stable, a China-based outfit.

"This horse showed ability from Day 1. The only time he didn't run well was second-up when he was caught wide," said Kuah.

"He was also very excited, was running on and off, and that's when I decided to remove the earmuffs. He's a lot calmer now.

"Today, he was still a bit green. At the parade ring, he's very difficult to saddle up, but in trackwork, he's okay.

"I ride him myself sometimes, but usually, it's my track riders who ride him. They've done a great job with this horse."

Now that Red Dragon seems to have settled his nerves better, Kuah has earmarked longer trips as his next ventures.

"He'll get better over more ground. I will take him to 1600m at some stage," said the former jockey.