Trainer Brian Smith will give underrated sprinter Meet George another chance to qualify for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap during the winter following the gelding's return to form at Doomben.Meet George ($5.50) burst clear from his rivals over the final stages to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Mr Armstrong ($2 fav) in Saturday's Mark Timms, The Good Guys Ipswich Handicap (1350m).Streets Away ($10) was only a short neck back third.Meet George narrowly missed out on qualifying for last year's Stra

Trainer Brian Smith will give underrated sprinter Meet George another chance to qualify for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap during the winter following the gelding's return to form at Doomben.

Meet George ($5.50) burst clear from his rivals over the final stages to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Mr Armstrong ($2 fav) in Saturday's Mark Timms, The Good Guys Ipswich Handicap (1350m).

Streets Away ($10) was only a short neck back third.

Meet George narrowly missed out on qualifying for last year's Stradbroke Handicap after failing in three lead-up races.

"He nearly fell in the Prime Minister's Cup and we kept going with him trying to get him into the Stradbroke," Smith said.

"I found out later after he ran in another couple of races before the Stradbroke that he had a deep-seated muscle injury over his hindquarters.

"He didn't come right until he ran second in the Glasshouse Sprint at Caloundra."

Smith is confident Meet George, who was backing-up seven days after finishing fifth at Eagle Farm last week, can measure up to the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.

"He's a serious racehorse and he does love the soft ground," he said.

Smith planted a kiss on winning rider Eddie Wilkinson following the six-year-old's 10th career win and paid tribute to Scott Galloway who regularly rides for the stable.

"Scotty normally rides this horse but he stuck with his stablemate, Jasminka," he said.

Apprentice Matt McGuren ensured more rides would be forthcoming from Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm after landing his second win for the stable aboard Shamardashing in the Francie Vincent, the Good Guys Mt. Gravatt Handicap (2050m).

Shamardashing ($2.25 fav) overcame being caught three wide approaching the home turn to down Za Magic ($4) by a length.

McGuren, who once weighed 65 kilograms in his rodeo days, scored for the first time for Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm aboard Boys On Tour at Eagle Farm last week.

"Wherever there's an offer and its the best ticket I'll be there to ride for Patinack," McGuren said.

McGuren is indentured to Grafton trainer Alan Ryan but is currently on loan to Taree trainer Ross Stitt and plans to ride as often as possible in Brisbane.

Shamardashing's win was the fifth metropolitan success for the 21-year-old.

"He's a nice horse and has been knocking on the door to win for a while," McGuren said.

Patinack Farm's foreman Brett Killion was again impressed with the skills shown by McGuren.

"It's crazy not to use an apprentice who is in-form and has a three-kilo claim," Killion said.

"I feel a little sorry for Tim (Bell) as he's done all the hard work but he knows what it's like. Tim was in the same position when he first started off."