Gold Coast gelding Scout remained on course for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas but not before surviving a Doomben protest.
Scout ($4) scored by a short half-head to Rothenburg ($4.40) with a short neck to Ziemba ($3.2) in the QTIS Three-Year-Old (1350m).
But Stephanie Thornton, who rode Rothenburg, claimed Scout had come in on her at the 250m when she was taking a run to his inside.
Ryan Maloney, who rode Scout, argued he had held his line and it had not altered the result.
Stewards took about five minutes to dismiss the protest.
Chief steward Peter Chadwick said there had been contributing factors with Jet A One, the horse on the inside of the other pair, moving out when tiring.
“Because of the contributing factors we can not be satisfied to the level to chance the result,” Chadwick said.
Co-trainer Trent Edmonds said Scout had improved out of sight since being gelded during a spell.
“Since he returned he has now won three in a row and the Magic Millions Guineas is his long term target,” Edmonds said.
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