Benny's Buttons enhanced his reputation as a short-course specialist on wet tracks at Eagle Farm on Saturday but trainer Kelso Wood is keen to test his versatility in feature races during the summer.
Benny's Buttons, the $3.20 favourite, made it two wins from as many starts on heavy tracks when he won the Channel Seven Handicap (1200m) by 2-3/4 lengths.
Wood now wants to test Benny's Buttons in races longer than 1200 metres before he heads to the spelling paddock with a summer carnival campaign his long-term goal.
"He's done a good job this time in but I'd like to try him over 1350 metres or 1400 metres before I tip him out for a little rest then bring him back for the Summer Series," Wood said.
"The first leg is 1200 metres, the second leg is 1350 metres and I think he'll run the mile in the last leg."
Jockey Michael Cahill was worried mid-race when the gelding wasn't travelling well but his fears proved unwarranted.
"When I felt for him coming past the 500-metre mark there didn't seem a lot there but then it was only a matter of 50 metres later I was pretty confident he'd be in the finish," Cahill said.
Cahill said Benny's Buttons wanted to loaf when he hit the front.
"I had to pull the whip and make him go to the finish but he's a good horse and especially good in this ground," he said.
Cahill singled Wood out for praise for rejuvenating the career of Benny's Buttons who was sidelined for almost two years with a leg injury.
"To win first up at the start of this campaign in what was a very competitive field after two years off speaks volumes for the ability of his trainer," he said.
Lady Echelon made it back-to-back wins for Cahill when she scored a runaway win in the Yellowglen Handicap (1600m) by four lengths as the $3.50 favourite.