Peter Gelagotis has never been afraid to promote the strength of his racing stable.

That's why the win of Illustrious Lad at Geelong on Wednesday came as a relief to the trainer.

Illustrious Lad's victory in the JB Scott Handicap restored much of Gelagotis' belief in a horse which hadn't scaled the heights expected.

The third win of his career came 16 months after his first - a debut victory in Adelaide.

That win had Gelagotis labelling Illustrious Lad as a serious racehorse, but the trainer was left scratching his head when the then colt finished at the tail of the field at his next start.

After a break, Illustrious Lad was not progressing as Gelagotis hoped, prompting the decision to geld the son of I Am Invincible.

Illustrious Lad still struggled to recapture the ability Gelagotis knew he possessed and was sent for another break.

"We left him a colt thinking he was just over the top at the time after the Caulfield run but when he came back into work he was terrible," Gelagotis said.

"Three weeks later we decided to geld him.

"It set him back and we were always chasing our tail getting him right mentally, and physically he dropped condition.

"We educated him, he had a good break and he's come back to where he should be."

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Illustrious Lad ($7) produced an impressive turn of foot in scoring by a length at his second run after a spell which followed an impressive Cranbourne win.

Duric believes as a spring four-year-old there may be a good stakes race in the gelding.

"He let down really well and extended like a good horse and I really think there are better wins in store for him," Duric said.

Gelagotis said he may look to head to Adelaide with Illustrious Lad, but may send the horse for a spell.

"We like longevity with our horses," he said.

"We don't overtax our horses and we like to have them around as five, six and seven-year-olds, like Mourinho.

"He's stood the test of time for us and hopefully this bloke can also."