Guard of Honour regained his title as the short-course specialist at the Gold Coast with his first win in 20 months.
Guard Of Honour was trained by Kris Lees in Newcastle when he won the Bat Out Of Hell (900m) at the Gold Coast on May 5, 2018.
He had raced well since without winning and was sent to Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida for this campaign.
Schweida gave Guard Of Honour a barrier trial at the Sunshine Coast which he won in good fashion last month.
He was going to trial the gelding again when he noticed the We Are Gold Coast Open (900m) in the race calendar.
The field was a virtual replica of the past two Bat Out Of Hell races.
“I said to Ron (owner Wanless) the race was worth $105,000 and he had won at his only go at the track and distance,” Schweida said.
“I said we might as well run him instead of having another trial.”
Guard of Honour ($4.60) did the rest finishing strongly to beat Spurcraft ($3.80).
“We haven’t reinvented the wheel with Guard Of Honour. It is just a matter of keeping these older horses happy. A change of scenery can often do that,” Schweida said.
