David Murphy is hoping his training career can reach new heights when Deacon steps up to black-type racing next campaign.Deacon continued Murphy's recent run of success when the six-year-old powered home to win Saturday's Cullen Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm.The son of Zabeel was last in the middle stages before making his run on the worst part of the track along the rails to down In Rehearsal by half a length with La Zeel a further two lengths away third.Murphy, a former champion Queensland ap

David Murphy is hoping his training career can reach new heights when Deacon steps up to black-type racing next campaign.

Deacon continued Murphy's recent run of success when the six-year-old powered home to win Saturday's Cullen Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm.

The son of Zabeel was last in the middle stages before making his run on the worst part of the track along the rails to down In Rehearsal by half a length with La Zeel a further two lengths away third.

Murphy, a former champion Queensland apprentice in the mid-1980s, has a good opinion of Deacon and considered sending him to Melbourne for some of the minor staying races last spring.

However, Murphy's decision to remain patient and stay at home is now paying off as the gelding's win was his second from his past three starts.

"He raced like a tired horse today so I'll probably give him a month off in the paddock and bring him back for some Listed races from November through to the summer series at Doomben," Murphy said.

"He needs a lot of pace on his races and that's what he got today."

Murphy's first goals will be the Brisbane Handicap and Recognition Stakes, both 1600-metre Listed races at Eagle Farm in November, before the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben in January.

"I've never won a Listed race but hopefully Deacon can do it for me." Murphy said.

"He's a good horse and I think 1600 to 1800 metres is his best distance."

Murphy was thankful he made a late decision to nominate Deacon as the stable's second stringer for the Cullen Handicap.

"The plan was always to run Armstrong Jones but I nominated Deacon late when I saw the light nominations," Murphy said.

"As it turned out I scratched Armstrong Jones after he hurt himself playing in the sand roll on Wednesday morning."

Meanwhile, trainer Alan Bailey has no plans to return to Sydney this spring with Tears'n'cheers who rediscovered his best form in the Swan Services Handicap (1200m).

The four-year-old, having his first start since his failure behind Chakvetadze in the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) in May, downed Seething Duck by three-quarters of a length.

The win proved a lucky pick-up ride for Scott Seamer who replaced the injured Scott Galloway.

Galloway was forced to stand down after injuring his back in a mishap on Friday.

Bailey was confident Tears'n'cheers was back to the form he showed which earned him trip to Sydney for the Group Two Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill in August last year.

"I took the blinkers off him today and I knew he would be hard to beat after the way he won a barrier trial last month," Bailey said.

"He's a good horse but for some reason he just didn't come up last campaign.

"His run in the Golden Rose last year wasn't a bad effort. He missed the start and sat deep all the way and only got beaten about two lengths," he said.