A year ago trainer David Kelly thought Cheval Du Feu was something special.

After Cheval Du Feu won his first three starts, Kelly began planning for this year's winter carnival but those ambitions were thwarted by a spate of wet tracks.

Kelly is hoping Cheval Du Feu's win at Eagle Farm on Wednesday will prove the turning point in the gelding's career.

"What he needs is dry tracks and he showed today how good he is when he gets the right conditions," Kelly said.

"Last time in he kept striking wet tracks and he's just a duffer in that going."

Kelly said the only time Cheval Du Feu encountered a suitable racing surface during the winter was in the Grafton Guineas when he finished a creditable sixth.

Cheval Du Feu indicated to Kelly he was back on track with a first-up third at the Gold Coast on November 2.

"He started $1.50 favourite that day but he was poleaxed on the corner so hopefully things are back on track now," Kelly said.

The gelding was heavily backed from $7 into $4.60 and led throughout to win the Lockyer Race Club Handicap (1400m) by a short neck with apprentice Rikki Jamieson producing a clever front-running ride.

"He's a Saturday class horse but he's been lacking a bit of confidence so that should do wonders for him," Kelly said.

"I might give him one more run in midweek grade then go to a Saturday race over a mile."

Earlier, trainer John Meagher showered praise on Smart Huss, an impressive debut winner of the Bundaberg Race Club Handicap (1300m).

"He's out of a half-sister to Solvit who won the Cox Plate so he's got a bit of depth in his pedigree," Meagher said.

"I'm sure he'll go on to better things because he's a nice scopey animal."