A change in race strategy by jockey Michael Cahill paid off when River Lad won the Gold Coast Stakes on Saturday.

After watching the pattern of earlier races, Cahill decided to abandon his initial riding plan for River Lad and steer a path towards the middle of the track.

"I was in two minds before the race how to ride him and my first thoughts were to press forward and try to be outside the leader but when I saw how the track's been playing I changed my mind," he said.

"Most of the winners of the earlier races had been coming away from the rail so I decided to ride him to swoop home."

Despite covering ground in the second half of the field, Cahill was confident River Lad ($6) was travelling well enough to win.

"I had plenty of horse underneath me and he let down really strongly," he said.

"Even though Signified had a bit of break on us I felt we had them covered from the home turn.

"To the second horse's credit I struggled to pick him up but it was a good gutsy win."

Trainer Natalie McCall plans to nominate River Lad for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap but a start in the famous sprint will be determined by his lead-up form.

"We've always thought he was a Group horse so we could probably look at the QTC Cup first and if he does happen to step up there's always the Stradbroke at the back of our minds," McCall said.

"If he doesn't look like measuring up then we'll find something more suitable for him."

River Lad was having his first start at the Gold Coast on Saturday and McCall admitted she was worried how the gelding would adapt to the circuit.

"The question mark was always going to be how he got around this track but he finished off too good for them," she said.