Trainer Tony Gollan went close to scratching Trakstar before the gelding won the Troy Trevitt Homes Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Trakstar ($6.50) came out on top after a battle in the straight to beat Little Brown Horse ($10) by a head with 1-1/4 lengths to the favourite Addictive Habit ($2.80).
Gollan was worried Trakstar might not be suited on a genuine heavy track and only changed his mind about scratching after the surface was rated in the soft range.
“He doesn’t like heavy going and I would have scratched him on anything worse than a soft 7,” Gollan said.
“But one thing was confirmed today and that is his best distance is 1600 metres.
“I tried him as a middle-distance horse earlier in his career but he doesn’t get it.”
Gollan already has the metropolitan premiership won and he now has 75 winners, three short of the record held by Bruce McLachlan since 1987-1988.
He leaves on his annual holidays for Europe on Sunday and will not be back until the last day of the racing season on July 31.
Meanwhile, well-bred Aussie Loves Sport ($2.05) might return to Sydney after winning the Campaign Group Handicap.
Aussies Love Sport, raced by Segenhoe Stud, was having his first start for Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds and scored a long neck win over Zaha’s Ace ($5.50).
“He has raced in Group Three company in Sydney and he should have won that,” Edmonds said.
“We will have to see what is here for him but he might even go back to Sydney.”
Aussies Love Sport, who is by champion sire Redoutes Choice out of the producing broodmare Miss Jakeo, has now won more than $300,000.
