Trainer Kelso Wood has nursed Into The Red back to form and been repaid with victory in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Doomben.

Into The Red ($4.80) was having his first start since last June in Saturday's 1050m-sprint and was strong at the finish to run down Straturbo ($11) and win by a long head.

Wood said he was thankful to Into The Red's owners who had given the horse plenty of time to recover from injury.

The gelding is raced by a syndicate which includes David Devine and Neville Morgan who also had Group One winner Sizzling with Wood.

"Into The Red hurt a ligament in his pastern in a track gallop and we gave him seven months in the paddock," Wood said.

"We then got him back on the water walker but he had only one jump-out before today so he will improve."

It was a second stakes victory for Into The Red who was successful in last year's Ascot Handicap.

"I will have a good think to see if he can get up to the Group races or whether we keep him in Listed company," Wood said.

Earlier, trainer David Vandyke continued his good start to his move to Queensland from Sydney when Maurus ($2.50) kept his Brisbane Cup alive.

Maurus swept to the lead on the home turn of the Windsor Management Hcp (2200m) and went on to beat Volkhere ($13) by 3-1/2 lengths.

"Maurus was to start at Randwick two weeks ago but got balloted out," Vandyke said.

"He is a nice horse and there are some handy Group Three and Listed races for him on the way to the Brisbane Cup where 2400 metres back at Eagle Farm should suit him."

Vandyke won the Listed Princess Stakes at Caloundra last week with Look To The Stars and will soon have 32 horses in work at the Sunshine Coast.