Among the events Cliff Brown wants to wipe from Von Hauke’s history is last year’s Golden Mile, and for over a minute on Saturday, he dreaded adding the 2026 installment to that collection.

But this time, unlike the previous year’s scenario where the perpetually unlucky gelding endured prolonged checking in the straight en route to a 1-1/2 length fourth, he seized the crucial paths to drive to a breathtaking victory in the $200,000 Listed feature.

The handler is no stranger to nail-biting races with the six-year-old and was thankful the late-bloomer gained the breaks essential for a success he saw as justified.

“I thought it might be history repeating itself, that’s for sure,” Brown said when asked his thoughts in the run.

“Good on him. He’s a lovely horse and he seems to be getting better.

“I think mentally he’s better. Physically I think they take time, but mentally he’s a lot better. He still overraced a little bit, but he’s far better than he was.”

At $11 in Bendigo, Von Hauke registered his fifth victory in 27 starts by slipping through to lead inside 100m out and repel a late surge from Wonder Boy ($4.60) to win the 1600m affair.

The returning long-distance runner Shockletz ($12) caught attention with a bold finish for third, half a length farther back.

Breaking a drought since his tense Group 2 Crystal Mile conquest on Cox Plate Day, Von Hauke impressed jockey Harry Coffey with his talent.

“He’s got a great little turn of foot, he just needs races run to suit,” Coffey said.

“He was the best horse in the race, he just needed things to be run how he likes, it was and we’ve seen how good he is.”

Brown noted Von Hauke is set to journey north to Queensland for the Winter Carnival, with no firm plans but openness to 1400m in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap early in June.

Visit betting sites to find racing odds for the Golden Mile.