Michael Hawkes was a relieved trainer after well-bred colt Sooboog bounced back from a first-up experience that threatened his spring to win at Canterbury.

A brother to Group One winner Snitzerland, Sooboog was beaten as a long-odds on favourite at Gosford last start when he pulled up lame after being passed fit to race despite being fractious in the starting stalls.

Hawkes said it was feared the incident had derailed the three-year-old's spring.

"He shouldn't have raced at Gosford, we all know that, but we had to put it behind us," Hawkes said.

"We were looking at putting him in the paddock after it but he came through it really good. He's a tough horse."

Having his first start since the Gosford experience, Sooboog was unwanted by punters and drifted from his opening quote of $3.60 to start $8.50.

He travelled well from the outset, stalking the speed in Wednesday's TAB.com.au Handicap and fighting back after being headed by eventual runner-up Deploy.

There was a short half-head between them with Realise Potential finishing third after coming from last on the turn.

Hawkes said Sooboog's main spring aim would be the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on October 31.

"It's a big relief, it does take a bit to get these horses back on song but we've done that today," Hawkes said.