Former sprinter Gold In Dubai may target provincial Cups in Queensland over the winter following his 2000 metre win at Flemington.Prepared at Mornington by Mark Riley, Gold In Dubai had not won beyond 1250 metres until Saturday and until his previous start had not been tried beyond 1600.Riley said it was Michael Walker who suggested he was looking for 2000 metres after riding him to two unplaced finishes in March."He rode him back and the horse went quiet and hit the line and that's where he gav

Former sprinter Gold In Dubai may target provincial Cups in Queensland over the winter following his 2000 metre win at Flemington.

Prepared at Mornington by Mark Riley, Gold In Dubai had not won beyond 1250 metres until Saturday and until his previous start had not been tried beyond 1600.

Riley said it was Michael Walker who suggested he was looking for 2000 metres after riding him to two unplaced finishes in March.

"He rode him back and the horse went quiet and hit the line and that's where he gave us the idea," Riley said.

"We've always thought the horse would run over ground but he had just never settled like that, but he's just turned the corner and relaxed.

"We do a lot of beach work with him and I think that has helped him and (horse physiotherapist) Michael Bryant has played a big part too.

"The horse had soft tissue damage in his pectoral muscle.

"We didn't know what it was that was stopping him from stretching out 100 per cent but he got on top of it, plus my staff have done a lot of work with on him.

Riley said he was considering the Banjo Paterson series for the gelding, comprising six heats from 2000 to 2500 metres at Flemington (three), Moonee Valley (two) and Caulfield (one) from May 21 through to July 2.

The $150,000 Final (2600m) is run at Flemington on July 9.

"He might even go to Queensland for the Ipswich Cup or Caloundra Cup depending on where it's dry. He doesn't like wet tracks," Riley said.

"He's absolutely thriving and he doesn't care when he travels but if the tracks stay dry we'll stay here."

The Ipswich Cup (2150m) is on June 18 while the $200,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) is at the Sunshine Coast on July 2, both at Listed level.

Ridden by Dean Yendall on Saturday, Gold In Dubai gained the upper hand early in the straight and went on to hold out Persian Star by a short-head with Influential Miss a long-neck away third.

Gold In Dubai, who ran third over 2000 metres behind The Big Steel and subsequent Warrnambool Cup winner Tinamou last month, has raced 31 times for four wins and has been placed on 11 other occasions.