Stayer Makdanife had his connections scratching their heads after he went from a dismal last seven days ago to a tough win at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Chris Waller trained Makdanife ($5.50) won a slogging battle with Ocean Addict ($4) to score by a short neck in the Country Music Raceday Handicap (2400m).
At the Gold Coast seven days ago Makdanife was the first horse beaten and dropped out to be last in a 2200m race.
Waller's Gold Coast manager Paul Shailer said he was at a loss to explain Makdanife's poor run at the Gold Coast.
“We had the vets go right over him and monitored him closely. We couldn't find anything wrong at all,” Shailer said.
“Maybe it was the fact he travelled up on the Wednesday before the Gold Coast run. It is what we usually do but maybe he didn't like it.
Makdanife will stay in Queensland to chase more distance races in coming weeks.