The irony of preparing a winner by Keep The Faith wasn’t lost on John Meagher at Doomben on Wednesday.

The comeback trainer was in a positive frame of mind as Hannibal Ad Portas returned to scale after the Coca-Cola Amatil Hcp (1350m).  “That’s our first winner in town since returning to Australia,” Meagher said.  “Things are going along quite nicely and it’s nice to share this moment with my sons.”

Meagher prepared What A Nuisance to win the 1985 Melbourne Cup before setting up shop in Singapore in the 1990s.  He returned home earlier this year and is confident the faith shown in his sons Dan, Chris and Paul will be rewarded.

“We will be looking to kick things along in the months ahead,” Meagher snr said.  “And I think Hannibal Ad Portas will be even better suited when he steps up in distance.”

Hannibal Ad Portas (4g Keep The Faith – Shazatak by El Moxie) was resuming from a 20 week spell on Wednesday and arrived in time to defeat front-runner The Paparazzi (NZ) by a short neck.

He is a younger brother to Gold Coast winner Keep Up The Attack who has won three races to date in Queensland.  Their dam Shazatak has a yearling filly by Bianconi and she foaled a colt by the same sire in September.

Keep The Faith started December with Gold Bundle’s all-the-way victory in the Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge on Sunday.

Gold Bundle (5g Keep The Faith – Thanks A Bundle by Danewin) has now banked over $115,000 for trainer Paul Seater and his wife Sue who bred him in partnership with Gary Martin’s Marant Group.

Keep The Faith (Sunday Silence) has sired 91 winners at a 60% strike-rate in his first three crops.  He stands for a $4,400 service fee alongside King Of Prussia (Anabaa) at Greta West Stud.

– Karl Patterson