FORMER Melbourne galloper Pickaxe has dug in to break his maiden at his third run for new connections.
The Pierro four-year-old, ridden by apprentice Cody Collis, won at career start number eight as a $4.20 chance in a Maiden Plate (1300m) at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday (July 21).
He had placed four times in Victoria before heading north.
Pickaxe got rolled as an extremely short odds-on favourite second-up at Ipswich last start.
Trainer Stuart Kendrick said it was pleasing to see the horse bounce back with a tough win on his home track.
He said he told Collis to keep the horse’s mind on the job.
“I think he’s that sort of horse,” Kendrick said.
“He just switched off the other day (at Ipswich). They got away from him, and it was all over at the turn.
“Today (Sunday), he was a lot more positive out of the gates and had him travelling, and I think that’s the key.
“He was still caught three deep there and I thought the horse really dug in well and got the job done.”