Gold Coast gelding Eker Road took the shortest route before and during the final of the Provincial Sprint Championship at Doomben.
Eker Road ($16) went straight to the front from barrier one and led all the way to beat Bold Endeavour ($26) by a half length in the $105,000 race for provincial class horses over 1350m.
The series was run over six heats in two months but Eker Road needed only one to make the field.
Trainer Bruce Hill said he was able to tailor Eker Road’s preparation after the gelding ran third in a heat at Ipswich late last month.
“It worked out nicely for us in the lead up and then when we drew one I told Matt (jockey Palmer) to be in the first three early but lead if no one else wanted to,” Hill said.
“As it turned out they gave him an easy lead and he was able to dictate the pace.”
Palmer rides mainly at the Gold Coast but Hill stuck with him because of the jockey’s work with Eker Road.
“He has won three times on him so understands the horse,” Hill said.
