Jockey Chris Munce gave Fantastic Blue his stamp of approval to contest next month's Group Three Newcastle Cup following the gelding's hard fought win at Doomben.Fantastic Blue, burdened with topweight of 58 kilograms, held on for a nose win over the fast-finishing Loves A Challenge in Saturday's Channel Seven Handicap (2200m).After Fantastic Blue won his previous start at Doomben, Munce declared the five-year-old needed to go to another level to be a genuine contender for the Newcastle Cup (230

Jockey Chris Munce gave Fantastic Blue his stamp of approval to contest next month's Group Three Newcastle Cup following the gelding's hard fought win at Doomben.

Fantastic Blue, burdened with topweight of 58 kilograms, held on for a nose win over the fast-finishing Loves A Challenge in Saturday's Channel Seven Handicap (2200m).

After Fantastic Blue won his previous start at Doomben, Munce declared the five-year-old needed to go to another level to be a genuine contender for the Newcastle Cup (2300m) on September 15.

"When he won last time at Doomben he did so on ability alone and wasn't fit," Munce said.

"To go to Newcastle he had to improve and he's a lot fitter now.

"I was in a lovely position at the 800 metres when some speed was injected into the race.

"He suddenly was off the bit and had to do some donkey work and get going again with 58 kilos."

Paul Nolan, 73, has been training for more than half a century but has only ever taken one horse interstate.

That was with Laurie's Folly who won a $20,000 maiden at Lismore in 2002.

"We'll see how he pulls up but it looks like we're going to Newcastle," Nolan said.

"It's a good effort to win anywhere with 58 kilos.

"I know what it's like carrying weight. I've had to lose 20 kilos."

Meanwhile, Gold Coast trainer Alan Bailey will push on towards the Newcastle Cup with Frozone despite the gelding's narrow defeat in the Lyndhurst Stud Open Handicap (1615m).

The six-year-old powered home to go under by a neck to the Kelso Wood-trained Elusive Port with Ausworld a further length away third.

"That run was just what we wanted," Bailey said.

Frozone is set to head south for the Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on September 2 before the Newcastle Cup.

Wood has no plans to spell Elusive Port just yet although he is giving the summer series some consideration with the seven-year-old.

Elusive Port cheated death last campaign when he came down with a serious leg infection.

"He's a very tough horse but he's a kicker," Wood said.

"His hock blew up one day and at one stage we thought we might have to put him down.

"While he's winning like this he'll stay in work and we'll find more of these types of races for him."

Elusive Port is owned by one of Wood's longest-term supporters, Noel Fuller, whose best horses include an Ipswich Cup winner, Awesome Weather.