The rejuvenation of former English galloper Bartholomeu Dias may be complete after the gelding scored a first-up win at Flemington.
Having his first run since February when fourth over 2500m at The Valley, Bartholomeu Dias swept home from the back of the field to claim the Sir Eugene Gorman Handicap (1600m) on Saturday.
Bartholomeu Dias came to Australia with three wins, ranging in distance from 1905m and 2504m, to his record and scored second-up at Sandown over 12 months ago.
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace had bigger plans for Bartholomeu Dias last campaign, but the gelding was unable to meet those expectations.
They have since turned around his training and now Bartholomeu Dias works through the hills at Fingal on the Mornington Peninsula.
“He is an enigmatic horse and has taken a while to work out,” Eustace said.
“I want to thank the team down at Fingal. They have changed his training up completely and he is doing largely hill track training away from any racetrack and that seems to have him in the right frame of mind.”
A $21 chance at Sportsbet, Bartholomeu Dias raced to a 1-¼ lengths win from Hi Stranger ($19) with the $3.70 favourite Dice Roll a nose away third.
Eustace said there were no specific plans for Bartholmeu Dias with the co-trainer saying the gelding was still an unfinished product.
“To be honest, it has taken a while to work him out and we probably haven’t fully yet either as to what his best trip is,” Eustace said.
“I would say on that (performance) we will try and keep him fairly fresh and keep him at a mile or 1800 metres and not go beyond 2000 metres at this stage and without having a look in the book, I would say that is what we’ll do.”
