Trainer Brian Dais‘ decision to stay in Brisbane with Looks Like Elvis paid off when the gelding won the Makers Mark Handicap at Eagle Farm.
Dais had at various stages been looking at the Newcastle Cup or a race at Caulfield this week but was worried the gelding wouldn’t get a start.
He elected to stay home and Looks Like Elvis ($2.40) did the rest coming from near last over 1800m to beat Reckless Choice ($4.20) and Morton’s Fork ($11).
The gelding will now get his chance in the south with his connections having plenty of confidence.
Dais took Looks Like Elvis to Melbourne and Sydney last campaign and since returning from a spell he was won four races and finished second in the other.
The win on Saturday should raise Looks Like Elvis’ rating which will be needed for him to make the field in some stakes races in the spring carnivals.
Dais is looking at races such as the Turnbull Stakes or Cranbourne Cup, although the gelding is also entered for the Caulfield Cup.
“I have been saying for a while this is the best horse I have had. He just keeps improving,” Dais said.
“I haven’t totally ruled out Sydney but the main thing is to find dry tracks.”
The race was delayed nearly an hour when apprentice Taylor Williams was bucked off Executed in the walkway where the horses go out to the track.
Williams was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital for X-rays on a possible broken left leg.
Former Goldolphin horse Polemic ($11) continued the good form of jockey Jake Bayliss who got his 20th winner for the season.
Bayliss was raised at Ipswich but after a stint in Victoria he has ridden with Group success in New Zealand in recent years.
He rode in Queensland during the winter and elected to stay on so he can help with his grandfather’s property.
Polemic scored by a short neck to the unlucky Trevelyan ($2.15) in the Canadian Club Handicap (1835m).
Trainer Stephen Lee picked up Polemic as a Class 1 horse from a Godolphin sale and has since won four races with him.
“It took us a while to work him out but he likes 1800m and he is honest,” Lee said.