Racing: Stud failure wins his way into Cup calculations

Platinum scissors bounced back from a less than successful stint at stud and burst into Doomben Cup calculations with a grinding Hollindale Stakes (1800m) victory at the Gold Coast yesterday.

Platinum Scissors ($A10), ridden patiently by Danny Beasley, registered his first win since his Newmarket Handicap success at Newcastle in March last year with a short neck win over Victorian Roman Arch ($A3 fav). Another Victorian visitor, Devastating ($A5), was a further three-quarters of a length away third, with the Graeme Rogerson-trained Cedar Manor close up in fourth.

Platinum Scissors, a full-brother to new stallion sensational Redoute's Choice, proved little value last breeding season when connections decided to retire the 5-year-old to stud.

"He served a few mares and got a couple in foal but he fired mostly blanks," said Brett Killian, stable foreman for trainer Gai Waterhouse. "He came back into work about four months ago and was bulky after his time at stud and lost between 40 and 50kg before he raced again."

Platinum Scissors showed Waterhouse he was close to his best form at his previous start when a gutsy second to New Zealand mare Tickle in the Lord Mayor's Cup (2020m) at Doomben.

"He really needed that run and Gai now wants to press on to the Doomben Cup later this month," Killian said.

Platinum Scissors' best win of his 27-start career was in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (1600m) at Randwick at the height of his 3-year-old career.

Beasley was delighted with Platinum Scissor's return to form.

"He's a funny old fellow. But he doesn't like being flogged. I gave him a couple of hits with the whip near the turn and he got going," Beasley said.

Roman Arch arrived on the Gold Coast around midnight after a rushed trip from his Cranbourne base.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED were the final words from Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman after his underrated Sir Dex won the Prime Minister's Cup (2400m) at the Gold Coast.

Hickman, who is better known as a trainer of sprinters, emerged as a new force in longer races when Sir Dex ($A5) scored a decisive three-quarter length win in the Group Two feature.

Sir Dex, ridden brilliantly by champion Sydney jockey Darren Beadman, gave Hickman only his second winner in a 2400m race when he booted strongly to beat Perlin ($A2 fav) and Regal Punch ($A9) who dead-heated for second.

Tickle was next home.

Sir Dex came to Brisbane with one goal - to qualify for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

"He's qualified for the Caulfield Cup," Hickman said. "Darren rode a super race but this is the race we targeted him for all along."

- AAP