Some video study helped trainer Tony Gollan devise winning tactics for veteran Straturbo to post his first victory in nearly two years at the Sunshine Coast.
Former Sydney galloper Straturbo ($26) got up by a nose to Tisani Tomso ($21) with a short head to Prompt Return ($5) in third in the Angove Wines Open Handicap (1000m).
Straturbo had not won since taking the Listed Bribie Handicap (1050m) at Doomben in December 2016.
His original trainer Gary Portelli decided the gelding would be better suited in Brisbane and advised connections to send Straturbo to Gollan at Eagle Farm.
“He used to stay with us whenever he came to Brisbane so it was a bit of a homecoming,” Gollan said.
“He didn’t fire first-up at Doomben at his first run for me but he wasn’t suited by the shifty surface – he hates it.”
The five-times premier trainer revealed he took time out between races to watch Straturbo’s most recent runs on video on his mobile phone.
“When he was racing well he they were bouncing him out of the barrier and making him go hard,” Gollan said.
“I told Jim (jockey Byrne) to do just that and it seems to have worked,” Gollan said.
