He had to do it the hard way but New Zealand gelding The Hombre raced his way into Queensland Derby calculations with a strong staying performance to win Saturday's $125,000 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben.The Hombre was second past the post behind wayward Melbourne three-year-old Tee Emar but a successful protest by part-time jumps jockey Jonathan Riddell resulted in him being elevated to the winner's stall.The Hombre was a short neck behind Tee Emar on the line but stewards were satisfied the int

He had to do it the hard way but New Zealand gelding The Hombre raced his way into Queensland Derby calculations with a strong staying performance to win Saturday's $125,000 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben.

The Hombre was second past the post behind wayward Melbourne three-year-old Tee Emar but a successful protest by part-time jumps jockey Jonathan Riddell resulted in him being elevated to the winner's stall.

The Hombre was a short neck behind Tee Emar on the line but stewards were satisfied the interference, which occurred when Tee Emar bored out under pressure at the 250m, cost him the 2020m feature.

"He clearly came out under my neck and took my line and I have no doubt the interference cost me the race," Riddell told stewards.

The stewards' panel agreed with Riddell's assertion and upheld the protest in less than a minute.

"Tee Emar shifted at least two to three horses and caused significant interference and we are convinced The Hombre would have won the race had that not happened," chief steward Wade Birch said.

Winning trainer John Bary said The Hombre would almost certainly go straight into the Derby at Eagle Farm on June 12 without another run.

"He's still learning his craft and I'll see how he pulls up but he races best fresh and we will probably roll on to the Derby," Bary said.

Gold Coast gelding Sanderson ran on late to finish a length and half away third and the Kelly Doughty-trained three-year-old is on target for the Derby.

Tee Emar's trainer Peter Moody was at a funeral in Charleville but his stable foreman Danny Hickey said the horse would improve with the run.

"He's just starting to put it together and he'll benefit with that run this way of going," he said.

"He shifted his ground under race pressure but he's always improving and he'll go to the Grand Prix and on to the Derby."