Four-year-old Viking Hero has surprised his connections and won the Group Three Eclipse Stakes after they nearly scratched him because of the heavy track.Trainer Mike Moroney said he spoke to part-owner Rupert Legh on Saturday morning when a final decision was made to take their chances and run.Moroney said Viking Hero had never been comfortable on rain-affected ground and had stunned him with his finishing burst over the last 400 metres.He was last at the 400 metres and jockey Mark Zahra said h

Four-year-old Viking Hero has surprised his connections and won the Group Three Eclipse Stakes after they nearly scratched him because of the heavy track.

Trainer Mike Moroney said he spoke to part-owner Rupert Legh on Saturday morning when a final decision was made to take their chances and run.

Moroney said Viking Hero had never been comfortable on rain-affected ground and had stunned him with his finishing burst over the last 400 metres.

He was last at the 400 metres and jockey Mark Zahra said he had virtually given up any hope of figuring in the finish as the horse shied at other horses around him.

"He hates it when horses come near him," Zahra said.

He said when Niblick came out in front of him Viking Hero immediately put his head to his side and was reluctant to stretch out.

"I was going to run last at the top of the straight," Zahra said.

Viking Hero was still second last at the 300 metres but as the widest runner in the straight began to quicken.

"He got into his own little zone and when I put a couple of hard ones around his bum he finished all over them," Zahra said.

Viking Hero ($7.50) scored by 1-1/2 lengths from Davcon ($18) with Niblick ($3.20 fav) a nose away third.

Viking Hero's only other victory was in a Benalla maiden but he lost last year's Myer Fashion Stakes on protest on Oaks day at Flemington and was placed in Sydney's Group Three Frank Packer Plate in the autumn.

Moroney said Viking Hero would have won his last two starts but "struggled" through the mud when a length third to Preventable at Caulfield on October 13 and second to The Big Steel on a heavy track at Flemington on Oaks day.

"He's been really consistent and is an improved horse since we gelded him in Queensland last campaign," Moroney said.

"He went around every single runner today and it was a good tough effort."

He said Viking Hero, by Elvstroem out of Zabeel mare Gypsy Dollar, was also maturing.

"He's always had ability and he is getting to the right age now," he said.