Trainer Barry Baldwin was disappointed after watching his stable star The Candy Man work between races but quickly had a smile back on his face after Motion Granted won at the Gold Coast.
Baldwin is hoping to get crowd favourite The Candy Man to the Group One Doncaster at Randwick on April 4.
The veteran trainer has been racing against time to have the grey ready for a southern trip and The Candy Man needed the exhibition gallop on Saturday.
"I was disappointed with his effort but he was shod. I will get the vet to look at him and we will see how he comes up before anything is decided," Baldwin said.
He had been planning to retire Motion Granted earlier this year but decided to give him another chance.
Ridden a heady race by Jake Bayliss, Motion Granted ($26) repaid him with a strong win in the Scorchers Handicap (1200m).
"He hadn't won on a wet track but he had been placed plenty of times," Baldwin said.
"I was happy for Jake ( Bayliss) because he was the one who encouraged me to keep racing him," Baldwin said.