Sydney cast-off Bugsytwoshoes has taken the first step towards a long range Grafton Cup mission and broken a city drought for Gold Coast trainer David Kelly.A successful rider for many years in NSW's Northern Rivers region before turning to training, Kelly could not recall his last Saturday winner after the four-year-old won Saturday's AHS Netball Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm."I'd love to take him back next year and have a go at the Grafton Cup," Kelly said."It's my home town but I'm not sure

Sydney cast-off Bugsytwoshoes has taken the first step towards a long range Grafton Cup mission and broken a city drought for Gold Coast trainer David Kelly.

A successful rider for many years in NSW's Northern Rivers region before turning to training, Kelly could not recall his last Saturday winner after the four-year-old won Saturday's AHS Netball Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm.

"I'd love to take him back next year and have a go at the Grafton Cup," Kelly said.

"It's my home town but I'm not sure if he can get the distance."

Bugsytwoshoes was formerly prepared by Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan but left his stables as a maiden following his failure in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick last May.

"Gerald only gave him one run over 2000 metres and felt he couldn't stay," Kelly said.

"There was nothing wrong with him when I got him and for some reason he's just clicked with me.

"I'm not sure whether it's the Queensland sunshine or what, but he's had seven starts for me for three wins."

Kelly has his own reservations about Bugsytwoshoes over distances but plans to give him every opportunity when he comes back from a well deserved break to get over ground with this year's Grafton Cup run over 2350m.

"He's a nice horse and I think he'll get to 2000 metres and he still might get further later on," he said.

"I'd like to take him to Grafton for the Cup if he does show us he can stay.

"He has the makings of getting further. He lets down well and has a good sprint."

Bugsytwoshoes was back near the tail of the field on the home turn and made his run with runner-up Bell Academy who went down by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Robbie Heathcote was delighted with Bell Academy's effort under 57.5kg and the four-year-old will have his next start over 2020 metres at Doomben in three weeks.

"The only reason he lost was because he gave the winner four-and-a-half kilos," Heathcote said.

"The 1800 metres was probably a shade short for him at this stage of his preparation and he'll only get better."

Bell Academy proved his staying ability and liking for a heavy track when he claimed the Group Two Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane winter carnival last May.

The son of Royal Academy subsequently finished seventh to the Peter Moody-trained Riva San in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June.

"This was only his third run this campaign and he'll keep going for a while yet before we start to look at next year's winter carnival again," Heathcote said.