A setback in his preparation will deny Gold Coast three-year-old Santoya Cat a Queensland Derby start but he earned a chance at some late winter glory at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Santoya Cat ($7) scored by the smallest of margins when a magnifying glass was used before he was declared a nose winner over Canny Be Famous ($8) in the Channel Seven Handicap (1300m).

Trainer Bryan Guy had planned to run Santoya Cat in the Queensland Derby on June 8 but he wasn't ready to return to racing until Wednesday.

"I have always thought he would make a nice stayer and he will get that chance," Guy said.

"But we will now be aiming him towards the Sunshine Coast Guineas over 1600m at the end of the winter carnival."

Santoya Cat is owned by Guy's long-time client Stanley Chan and the gelding races in the blue and gold colours of their favourite NRL team, the Parramatta Eels.

Jockey Michael Cahill brought up his 50th metropolitan winner for the season and agreed Santoya Cat would make a nice horse later in his career.

Apprentice Tegan Harrison continued her good run with Grafton trainer Paddy Cunningham when Aimalac Burra ($13) won the BMAG Handicap (1000m).

Cunningham had booked Northern Rivers apprentice Jodi Worley but she could not take the ride because she does not have a metropolitan licence.

Harrison, who won two recent races on Shinji, took the ride and was never headed from the start.

North Queendland owner Tom Sheahan and trainer Barry Baldwin had another impressive winner when Chosen Lad ($10) won the Brisbane Marriot Handicap (1000m).

The Baldwin-Shehan combination have had a string of top horses including Burdekin Blues, Flying Home, Go Sequalo and Prince Adel.