Queensland’s golden run continued on Saturday when Transatlantic claimed a thrilling victory in the $1 million Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, adding another major to the Sunshine State’s growing list of spring triumphs.

The five-year-old son of Snitzel handed trainer Tony Gollan his second consecutive win in the famous mile following Antino’s demolition job in last year’s edition. This time there was no runaway margin — Transatlantic ($10) dug deep under Mark Zahra to defeat Evaporate ($6) by a short head, with Leica Lucy ($7.50) charging home for third, a further 1¼ lengths away.

“We bought him as a yearling, we’ve had some ownership changes along the way, but it’s just terrific,” Gollan said. “He’s been a lovely horse to train, and to win a Group 1 with him is a great result. There’s something in the water in Brisbane at the moment.”

Transatlantic’s victory was sweet redemption, reversing the result of his narrow Sandown defeat to Evaporate on September 27 — the same weekend the Brisbane Lions marched towards AFL premiership glory. The gelding has now won seven of 20 starts and over $1.3 million in prizemoney.

Gollan joins fellow Queenslander Robert Heathcote in achieving back-to-back Toorak Handicaps, following Heathcote’s dual success with Solzhenitsyn in 2012–13.

Zahra’s bold tactics from a wide gate proved decisive. “I got a nice time in front and when I kicked, I knew I’d kicked well,” Zahra said. “He can think a bit, but he fought hard late when Evaporate came at him. I didn’t have to look — I knew it was Blake (Shinn) chasing me down.”

Favourite Sepals ($2.50) endured a luckless run, stuck in traffic for much of the straight, and finished last.

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