It hasn't quite happened yet for Dundonnell in his first year in Hong Kong but he gets the race and the draw for his new trainer to turn the page in the Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin today.
Dundonnell (Douglas Whyte) certainly wouldn't be the first quality import to make a better fist of things after a season of acclimatisation and Richard Gibson will be the trainer to benefit if he does, after a summer switch from Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's yard.
The four-year-old had some excellent form in Britain before his arrival that suggested he should progress to being one of the better milers in town with maturity.
But, in his opening campaign, Dundonnell suggested loud and often that he had yet to adjust to his new home despite managing a solid win over today's course in Class Two.
Dundonnell was hit and miss at the jump and intent on over-racing, at times very strongly, and doing too much in running saw him struggle to find the line late in his races.
Nevertheless, his campaign last season laid a foundation to build on if he is better acclimatised now, as so many previously-raced horses are in their second term here.
His work now seems as impressive as last term but more settled and he moved well in his only barrier trial up the straight on September 6 without looking to get over-excited, donning a hood and shadow roll for the first time.
Today's feature maps up beautifully for Dundonnell, with every likelihood that Matthew Chadwick will be able to stroll across the field in the early stages to lead on Beauty Flame.
Super Lifeline (Karis Teetan) from gate two and Dundonnell from gate one look the most likely horses to be following the leader, and their low draws will ensure they don't have to do much to get there. Likewise,Winning Leader (Zac Purton) has gate three and is almost invariably handy to the pace horses when he draws low.
That leaves the remainder of the field to sort themselves out and the question mark is on whether horses like Same World or Pleasure Gains, who can race handy, would follow Chadwick forward from outside and try to put some pressure on the leader or let him have control.