Chinese Dragon made his presence felt on the premier stage at Ellerslie this afternoon with a special conditions maiden quinella.

The Goodwood Stud’s progressive son Serpent took the thick end of a $20,000 stake when he defeated the filly Grace O’Malley.

Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Serpent has now won twice from just five appearances.

“He’s untapped and keeps stepping up and improving so you can’t knock him,” Forsman said.

Bred by Goodwood and raced by Scott Richardson, Serpent settled just off the pace and rallied strongly in the straight.

“I was a bit nervous when it was stop-start but once he (Opie Bosson) wound him up it worked out well,” Forsman said.

Chinese Dragon’s daughter Grace O’Malley put in a spirited finish from the back of the field for the ninth minor placing of her career.