Shane Scriven made the most of his late booking for Rags To Riches to claim the Listed Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm.Scriven was booked to ride Scone mare Alverta in the 1600-metre feature but had to find another ride when trainer Paul Messara preferred the $200,000 Canberra Cup (2000m) on Sunday.Rags To Riches' trainer Liam Birchley heard rumours early in the week that Alverta might not be an acceptor for the Recognition Stakes and held off engaging Scriven until Messara's decision."I manage

Shane Scriven made the most of his late booking for Rags To Riches to claim the Listed Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Scriven was booked to ride Scone mare Alverta in the 1600-metre feature but had to find another ride when trainer Paul Messara preferred the $200,000 Canberra Cup (2000m) on Sunday.

Rags To Riches' trainer Liam Birchley heard rumours early in the week that Alverta might not be an acceptor for the Recognition Stakes and held off engaging Scriven until Messara's decision.

"I managed to book Shane on Thursday after I heard Alverta wouldn't be coming," Birchley said.

Birchley gave his eight-year-old a strong hope of winning Saturday's black-type feature despite a rough trip back to Brisbane following a short Melbourne campaign.

"I gave him a chance but I was a little worried he was half a run short after I had to back off on him after he had a rough trip home from Melbourne," Birchley said.

"He was being weighted out of races here so I sent him to Melbourne for some of the minor country Cups but things didn't work out down there and he only had three starts.

"He didn't get the right races to suit him in Melbourne. He's a bit field shy and likes to lead or be on the outside to do his best."

Scriven, who will ride Alverta in the Canberra Cup after winning on the mare in the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm last start, was surprised with the easy lead his rivals gave Rags To Riches in the Recognition Stakes.

"Too easy," he declared.

"He fought on really well but they left us alone in front."

Birchley plans to keep Rags To Riches to 1600-metre races for the immediate future and will back him up over the distance in a fortnight before a possible tilt at the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben next month.

Trainer Bruce Hill was far from disappointed with runner-up Hey Elvis who went down by a short half-head with Jujulio a further 1-3/4 lengths away third.

Hill is hoping Hey Elvis can step up on a bigger stage next year during the Brisbane winter carnival in races like the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

"I thought his run was terrific. It was his first time over the distance and he got beaten by a bee's knee," Hill said.

"He's only a young horse and is still learning and I'll either give him a break now or give him another run in the Bernborough."

Jockey Paul Hammersley reported Hey Elvis, who was an impressive winner in a 1400-metre class six last start, wasn't comfortable on the rain-affected track.

"The lack of speed in the race cost him a win but he struggled to pick himself up in the wet conditions," Hammersley said.