Trainer Adam Campton has a happy knack of getting the best out of tried horses and hopes to soon add another to his growing list.
Campton will saddle former Victorian Strategic Position in the Class 6 Plate at Doomben on Wednesday and concedes the six-year-old will need the run after a long lay-off.
Strategic Position - a Damien Thornton mount - is making his stable debut for Campton after having 18 months off following knee surgery.
"I didn't know his issues before I got him but he's a big heavy horse and needed surgery from wear and tear on his knees," Campton said.
"He's coming along well and I haven't had any problems with him.
"He's had two barrier trials and a jump-out but he hasn't raced for a long time so he'll probably need the run.
"But, he's a good horse on his day so it wouldn't surprise me to see him run a big race."
Strategic Position was trained by Phillip Stokes in Victoria for most of his career before his owners sent him to Queensland's premier trainer Tony Gollan in search of an elusive metropolitan win.
Gollan's mission was accomplished when the son of Star Witness was successful at Doomben in November, 2022.
Strategic Position only had four starts for Gollan before the gelding underwent surgery after finishing last in a field of nine behind the Bryan Dais-trained Glorious Ruby in a 1000 metre Class 6 Plate at Doomben a month later.
Campton wants Strategic Position ridden forward in his return and expects he'll take a lot of improvement after his comeback.
"He'll definitely improve after this run and I'll see how he goes before we decide where to go with him next," Campton said.
Campton is in his third year of training and he's now in charge of a stable of 48 horses at the Gold Coast.
Campton is currently striking at just over 12 per cent this season with 38 winners and is seventh on the Queensland provincial trainers premiership.
He comes from a family steeped in racing tradition.
His father, Neil, was a Golden Slipper-winning jockey while grandfather Les Coles was a Melbourne Cup winner jockey.
Leading Sydney-based trainer Gerald Ryan is also an uncle of Campton's.
