Problem horse Shrewd Rhythm landed his first win in nearly two years on debut for Mick Price over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley on Monday.Bought out of the Greg Eurell stable for a seven-figure sum by a group headed by Lindsay Park Stud and including Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm Racing after he won the Listed Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in August 2007, the colt was a flop for the David Hayes stable.In eight starts for Hayes since the purchase the son of Danehill Dancer's only placing was a

Problem horse Shrewd Rhythm landed his first win in nearly two years on debut for Mick Price over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley on Monday.

Bought out of the Greg Eurell stable for a seven-figure sum by a group headed by Lindsay Park Stud and including Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm Racing after he won the Listed Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in August 2007, the colt was a flop for the David Hayes stable.

In eight starts for Hayes since the purchase the son of Danehill Dancer's only placing was a third in the Group Three Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield in September 2007.

He has had a history of problems including a back ailment but his main problem was that he was too hot and a problem for his riders.

"I have to thank (track rider) Eric Woolston. He hasn't been off his back since we got him," Price said.

"He's a funny horse. Obviously he has his little tricks about him but this win is extremely satisfying."

Price took him to race meetings when he wasn't racing as a ploy to calm him down.

"I actually think he's a good tempered horse and not every horse suits every trainer," Price said.

"We just had to wind him right back. I had pacifiers on him every single time we've had him out at Caulfield and, of course, today we had to take them off.

"I said to Craig (Newitt) 'just walk him to the gates, just don't breath'."

Sent out at $18, Shrewd Rhythm settled seventh of the 10 runners in the fifth heat of the All Victorian Sprint Series and he finished powerfully through the heavy (8) going to score by 1-1/4 lengths from the Hayes-trained Allied Force ($3.30 equal fav) with Woppitt ($3.30 equal fav) three quarters of a length away third.

Price believes the horse, who won the Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) and was third in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield as a two-year-old, can measure up again in stakes and group company.

"We've had some luck with the bulls (entires) - Alamosa, Perfectly Ready and Shinzig. I like the horses with ability but they are challenges. I hope he can go on from here," he said.

Shrewd Rhythm gave Price and Newitt a winning double following the victory of Porsched ($7) in the Arrow Training Services Hcp (1200m).

Earlier Steve Richards won the John F Feehan Hcp (1200m) with consistent Bel Esprit three-year-old filly Bel Shoes ($6), ridden by Steven King, on the same day as his stable star Rostova returned to her box at Flemington following a spell.

"I got her off the float an hour ago," Richards said of Rostova.

"She looks super, she's done very well. She tried to kick me."

Richards said the Group Two VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) winner and Group One AJC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) placegetter would be set for three-year-old fillies races in the spring with her main target the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.

Michael Rodd shared the riding honours with a double aboard the Rick Hore-Lacy-trained Zabeel mare Britomart ($3.50 fav) in the Quest Moonee Valley Hcp (2040m) and the Peter Healey-trained Mr Sargood ($3.30 fav) in the Aquanas Foods Hcp (1528m).