Three years after his finest racetrack performance, Laser Hawk has put his name in lights again.
The winner of the 2012 Rosehill Guineas, the problem-plagued Laser Hawk's class shone through in Wednesday's Group Three Newcastle Newmarket (1400m) to prompt talk of a return to the elite level.
Despite racing wide throughout under topweight of 59kg, Laser Hawk ($9.50) called on his reserves to beat Scorpio Queen ($26) by a length with the $4 favourite Mighty Lucky another long neck third.
After twice suffering a tendon injury, Laser Hawk was transferred from Gai Waterhouse to Joe Pride to try to reinvigorate his career.
"I'm very happy to get an old horse like this up and hopefully there's still some life left in him," Pride told Sky Racing World.
"With all respect to his opposition, this old bloke's a Group One winner.
"He had three trials to get ready for this and it's extremely gratifying.
"He's in the Doncaster and the Queen Elizabeth so we will see how he goes."
Hugh Bowman, who was having his first ride on Laser Hawk, said it was all about class.
"There's no substitute for class. We saw what he did as a three-year-old," he said.
"He had to give five kilos to the rest.
"He got into a nice rhythm and had a bit on them in the end."
Scorpio Queen's trainer Kris Lees had better luck in the $100,000 heat of the Provincial Championship when Magic Of Dreams won to give him his third qualifier for the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 11.
Lees had already qualified Selectify and Parraay who were placed in heats at Wyong and Kembla Grange but was thrilled to see the three-year-old beat Oxfort Poet and Slots.
"It's her first preparation and she's coping really well," Lees said.
"And it's great for the owners who are a syndicate with a lot of Newcastle people."
The first three all qualify for the final with Oxford Poet's trainer Kim Waugh relieved after he messed up in the series heat at Wyong.
"I've never been so happy to get beaten," she said.
"Coming second means he's in the final.
"He got revved up at Wyong and was a bit the same today but he's got time to be right on the day."