Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace won't return to defend his crown in Melbourne next autumn.Swiss Ace is recovering from knee surgery he underwent in September and will remain in the spelling paddock for another month before resuming work ahead of a Brisbane winter carnival campaign.The five-year-old was being aimed at the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in September when trainer Mick Mair discovered his leg injury.Subsequent x-rays revealed Swiss Ace had a small chip on his near-side f

Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace won't return to defend his crown in Melbourne next autumn.

Swiss Ace is recovering from knee surgery he underwent in September and will remain in the spelling paddock for another month before resuming work ahead of a Brisbane winter carnival campaign.

The five-year-old was being aimed at the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in September when trainer Mick Mair discovered his leg injury.

Subsequent x-rays revealed Swiss Ace had a small chip on his near-side front splint bone which required surgery.

"There's no drama with him now and I could have taken him back for the autumn races in Melbourne if I had wanted," Mair said.

"Considering he's an entire, he hasn't put on weight like I thought he might do, so that's a good sign.

"I'm a gambler and I'm going to take a punt that Brisbane will have a dry winter next year for their big races.

"He'll come back into work in mid January and get ready for the Stradbroke and the other major races."

After his success in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield last February, Swiss Ace was narrowly beaten by Scenic Blast in the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 7.

Mair then brought Swiss Ace back to Queensland before he again headed interstate for a fourth to Nicconi in the Group One The Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick in April.

Swiss Ace's winter campaign was disrupted by wet tracks and his unruly manners after claiming the Group Two Sir Byrne Hart Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Anzac Day.

The son of Secret Savings had his mind on the breeding barn when he played up in the saddling enclosure prior to the Group One BTC Cup at Doomben, resulting in his shock performance to finish last to Duporth.

Wet tracks then forced Mair to eventually abandon plans to start his charge in the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicaps.

A victory in next year's $1 million Group One Stradbroke would be a fitting finale to Swiss Ace's career.

Mair expects Swiss Ace's owners to retire him to stallion duties for next season, although the stud rights have yet to be snapped up.

"There's been no firm offers from any stud just yet but I expect it will happen and the winter could be his final campaign," Mair said.

Brisbane bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell, who has extensive contacts in the United States, has been given the task of finding a buyer.

Rounsefell recently organised the sale of banned bleeder Hey Elvis who has been sent to the stable of Mike Mitchell at Hollywood Park.