Dylan Gibbons marked his return to city winners’ lists with a smart inside ride aboard Sacro Catino, a horse now destined for the Queensland Derby.

Gibbons, who was sidelined for over four months following shoulder reconstruction surgery, only resumed race riding in recent weeks. His victory in Wednesday’s $100,000 Super Maiden (1600m) signaled a welcome return to form, and he was quick to credit the win to trainer David Payne’s strategic preparation.

“He’s a smart man Dave and he can fly under the radar,” Gibbons said.

“The trial didn’t blow me away but he’s a master at that. It’s just another prime example of the stayers he likes to buy and how they keep improving.”

Having his sixth career start, Sacro Catino is beginning to mature, according to Payne, who believes the gelding has a staying future.

“I’m glad for Dylan as well. It’s his first winner for a while,” Payne said.

“We’re going to head to the Derby in Brisbane. We’ve always thought he was going to stay all day.

“We will just get him qualified and look for a 2000 metre race in Sydney first.”

Meanwhile, Peter Snowden is also eyeing a winter campaign in Brisbane with Media World, who kicked off his preparation with a determined win in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m).

The colt, last year’s Clarendon Stakes winner, held his own against tough opposition in his two-year-old season, including races against Autumn Glow, Lady Shenandoah, and Swiftfalcon.

Snowden now has the Hawkesbury Guineas in his sights for the colt’s next start.

“There is good progress there. The plan was, if he ran well today, to go to the Hawkesbury Guineas with him and I don’t think that will change,” Snowden said.

“I have always thought a bit of him. He’s still a colt and we thought we’d give him one more preparation and hopefully he could make a name somewhere between here and Brisbane for (owners) Yulong.

“He’s a terrific horse to work with. He’s got a good nature, he’s a kind horse and he’s got his share of ability.”