Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace made a successful defence of his Sir Byrne Hart Stakes crown but not without giving his followers a few anxious moments at Eagle Farm.Swiss Ace, having his first start since finishing fourth in the Group One The Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick earlier this month, led all the way to down Mudgee sprinter Sniper's Bullet by a length in the 1200-metre Group Two feature.The David Hayes-trained Red Element filled the minor placing a further 1-1/4 lengths away.Swiss Ace had n

Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace made a successful defence of his Sir Byrne Hart Stakes crown but not without giving his followers a few anxious moments at Eagle Farm.

Swiss Ace, having his first start since finishing fourth in the Group One The Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick earlier this month, led all the way to down Mudgee sprinter Sniper's Bullet by a length in the 1200-metre Group Two feature.

The David Hayes-trained Red Element filled the minor placing a further 1-1/4 lengths away.

Swiss Ace had no trouble leading the field but at one point in the straight it looked as though the four-year-old was under pressure and in danger of having his colours lowered by the emerging Sniper's Bullet.

However, neither trainer Mick Mair nor jockey Ken Pope were concerned.

"He needs pressure on him like that to do his best and for some reason he wins," Mair said.

"There's a fair bit of improvement to come from this run and I'm satisfied with the win."

Pope and Mair combined to win their only Group One race when the entire won at the elite level in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February.

Pope was relieved to get over the hurdle of successfully defending last year's win in the Sir Byrne Hart after being involved in a barrier trial fall on Tuesday.

"I sprained my right ankle and I've got deep tissue bruising in my shoulder and a corked thigh," said Pope.

"But I was never going to let it stop me from riding this bloke.

"Once he jumped he dropped the bridle but he travelled slower than he normally does.

"He's got speed to burn and is the perfect professional but he only does enough and fights like a tiger."

Mair is now looking forward to Swiss Ace's next assignment against crowd favourite Apache Cat in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben in a fortnight before they clash again in the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) two weeks later.

Trainer Tracey Bartley is anxiously looking forward to a rematch with Swiss Ace and declared the 2007 Stradbroke Handicap winner would improve many lengths following his first run since he failed in the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in December.

"It was a terrific run and I think we'll really see something in about 10 weeks," said Bartley, referring to his Stradbroke Handicap mission at Eagle Farm in June.

"I think you'll see about three lengths improvement from him for his next run."

Bartley also is aiming Sniper's Bullet for next month's BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000.