Gold Coast gelding Gold Ambition has earned himself a chance in stakes company after confirming his reputation as a horse with a mind of his own at Doomben.

Despite coming from well back off a muddling early pace Gold Ambition ($5.50) beat Awake The Stars ($4.20) by a neck with a long head to Valentino Rossa ($5) in Saturday's Class 6 Handicap (1600m).

Trainer Michael Costa said the best way to describe the six-year-old was “weird” and having a mind of his own.

“He was on his game today and you could see how well he can finish. We have tried him over a middle distance but really his best distance is around the 1600m to 1800m,” Costa said.

“The (Listed) Tattersall's Mile in a fortnight might be the right sort of race for him. He will probably run in it.

“The key to him is keeping him fresh and for 1600m races we can do that.”

Gold Ambition has now won $450,000 in prize money but Costa believes it could be much more if he raced like Saturday in all of his races.

Winning rider Robbie Fradd said his mount had knuckled down well and hit the line hard.

Glen Boss aboard Awake The Stars reckoned he had the run of the race but the winner was simply a touch strong.