The Peter Snowden trained Mental is certain to firm in Stradbroke betting after producing a very dominant win in the Group 3 $125,000 Ascend Sales Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben today.

Mental will now challenge BTC Cup winner Sea Siren for favouritism in the Group 1 $1m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.

Kerrin McEvoy brought Mental from midfield after a slow getaway and dominated the three year olds in the run to line to score a very impressive win.

Today’s win was Mental’s fifth from eight starts and Snowden will now line the three year old up in the Group 2 $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 2 a week before the Stradbroke in an attempt to gain a start in the million dollar sprint.

Snowden does have some work to do with the Lonhro gelding to improve his barrier manners and admits that he will not be able miss the start in top company and still win.

“Probably the only little flaw he has and we just have to iron that out,” Snowden said.

“We wanted to be positive today and have him in the first four or five, he was just a half length slow and that puts you on the back foot. Kerrin had to drive him through and he got a bit keen for a while but then relaxed.”

“From the 600m on he was in cruise control then. He’s an impressive horse but higher the level goes, the less mistakes you have to make, we have to get those things right and hopefully come the D day we have them right.”

Amah Rock for Jake Noonan ran on fairly for second without ever threatening Mental and Jeff Lloyd on the John Thompson trained Boys On Tour also made up some ground.

Mental was always in the red and started at $1.80 favourite with Amah Rock at $8 and third placegetter Boys On Tour was $15.