A colt who was given almost no hope of racing 12 months ago has won his debut at Geelong to give trainers Simon Zahra and Mathew Ellerton one of their biggest racetrack thrills.Zahra could hardly contain his excitement as Prussian Storm, ridden by Andrew Mallyon, powered home to land the GMR Maiden Plate (1100m)."It is a big story," Zahra said."He severed 90 per cent of his off-front tendon when he went through a fence 12 months ago and vets said he had only a four per cent chance of ever racing

A colt who was given almost no hope of racing 12 months ago has won his debut at Geelong to give trainers Simon Zahra and Mathew Ellerton one of their biggest racetrack thrills.

Zahra could hardly contain his excitement as Prussian Storm, ridden by Andrew Mallyon, powered home to land the GMR Maiden Plate (1100m).

"It is a big story," Zahra said.

"He severed 90 per cent of his off-front tendon when he went through a fence 12 months ago and vets said he had only a four per cent chance of ever racing."

Prussian Storm spent three months at Werribee Veterinary Hospital recovering from the life-threatening injury and many of his owners deserted him thinking his racing career was over before it even started.

Businessman Stefan Seketa took up 60 per cent of the vacated shares and races the three-year-old along with members of the Aspendale Football Club and Zahra's father-in-law Frank Mulder.

Zahra said it was one of his most satisfying wins in racing.

"That why we were screaming like we were," Zahra said.

Prussian Storm ($8) enjoyed a good run behind the leaders and finished strongly to score by a half-length from city-performed $2.40 favourite Kraal with Shrapnel Gully ($3.40) 1-1/2 lengths away third.

Zahra, who bought the son of King Of Prussia for $20,000 at the Melbourne autumn sale, said he always liked the colt but said there was always a nagging doubt about how he would handle his first race start.

"He trialled well but we weren't sure about the leg and he's into the girls a bit," Zahra said.

"Every time he gallops we cross our fingers, but he's sound.

"It just goes to show that you never say never."

Prussian Storm's victory fuelled confidence that Alibridge could win the Orieme Maiden Plate (1200m) and she brought up a double for the stable and Mallyon.

She has always been in the stable but after two runs for owner David Hains he offered her at an Inglis sale in March last year and Ellerton and Zahra along with Peter Franklin and Seketa bought her for $5,000.

"We knew she went okay so we bought her and now she has won a $22,500 race," Zahra said.

Alibridge ($4.60), was having her seventh race start and fought on strongly to hold off Oneforall ($5) by a long head with A Toda Ley ($3.60 fav) a distant third four lengths away.