The Ryan-Alexiou stable had long targeted the $250,000 feature on the Gold Coast with Deficit which had a further $200,000 bonus attached to it for eligible horses such as their son of Snitzel.

Settled midfield from an inside barrier, while there were some nervous moments in the straight, it became a case of plan well executed when the four-year-old found clear room and surged to the front for victory over a brave Ashgrove.

“I saw him thinking about going up the inside and I was praying he wasn’t going to try it but he pulled the right reign late,” Sterling Alexiou said.

“Brenton (Avdulla) just put him in the box seat and just bided his time in the straight and got him out at the right time and he held them off late.”

The win more than doubled Deficit’s career prizemoney earnings to date which will now exceed $500,000.

“This sort of race, this horse wouldn’t be afforded the chance to race for this sort of prize money very often,” Alexiou said.

“The owners have had a really good day today.

“Obviously it’s a restricted race, but we’ve targeted this race ever since he went out last preparation. It’s a big rap for the stable and for all the owners and obviously for the horse because he’s come good on the right day.”

The win provided jockey Brenton Avdulla with a double on the Gold Coast program after he won the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m) on fellow Ryan-Alexiou stable runner Silentsar.

“It was a target race for him (Deficit),” Avdulla said.

“I remember talking to Gerald (Ryan) probably six weeks ago, a bit longer, and I said I was going to be up here for the two days. He said, ‘don’t take a ride in The Wave (Deficit) and don’t take a ride in the maiden (Silentsar) so it’s paid off.”

“He’s had a nice slow prep building towards today. He drew a gate and he performed to his best.

“He was good. He presented at the right time and he just needed an ounce of luck to get out. He got his way out and he made the most of it.”