Battling country trainer Todd Howlett was ecstatic when bargain buy Star Of Octagonal, bought on the basis of a dream, scored a decisive win in the $740,000 Inglis Guineas at Scone.Howlett, 38, said the biggest pressure he felt going into Friday's 1600m feature for three-year-olds was over his decision not to run the horse in the Hawkesbury Guineas earlier this month."When I heard so many people saying I should have run him I started to doubt myself," Howlett said."However this win proves it was

Battling country trainer Todd Howlett was ecstatic when bargain buy Star Of Octagonal, bought on the basis of a dream, scored a decisive win in the $740,000 Inglis Guineas at Scone.

Howlett, 38, said the biggest pressure he felt going into Friday's 1600m feature for three-year-olds was over his decision not to run the horse in the Hawkesbury Guineas earlier this month.

"When I heard so many people saying I should have run him I started to doubt myself," Howlett said.

"However this win proves it was the right move.

"The horse will go straight to the paddock and we will think about the spring, either in Sydney or Melbourne or both.

"It is something I will have to sit down and discuss with the owners."

Big-race jockey Glen Boss played up to the crowd as he brought Star Of Octagonal back to scale.

Boss rode him when he won the Group Three South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick last month and was keen to come from Melbourne to partner him in the Guineas.

"He felt better than last time," Boss said.

"He is going to be a very good horse next time in."

Despite starting from barrier 14, Boss had Star of Octagonal in third place behind leaders Beaveroo and All Legal.

At the 200 metres Star Of Octagonal ($2.60 fav) exploded away to win by 2-1/2 lengths from Slapstick ($16) with Widden Valley ($15) a further length away third.

Owners Phil and Leanne Moore paid just $22,000 for Star Of Octagonal at the 2008 Scone yearling sale after Leanne had dreamt of buying a horse by Octagonal and giving it that name.

"It's taken a lot of hard work and worry to get this horse to where he is today but you have that with all young horses," Howlett said.

"Phil and Leanne have been great clients of mine and it makes it so much more special that they own the horse.

"Good horses are what gives trainers a profile and I have been very lucky to get this one."

Howlett trained in Singleton for some years before briefly moving to Wyong then buying a property at Belford in the Lower Hunter Valley and developing it into a training complex.

Star Of Octagonal has now won three of his six starts and been placed in the other three for prizemoney in excess of $630,000.