A convincing win by Conseravtorium in the Listed $175,000 Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich today softened the blow for Adelaide trainer Gary Kennewell after the sprinter narrowly missed a start in the Stradbroke Handicap.

After missing out on a Stradbroke Handicap start Conservatorium wins the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich. Photo by Daniel Costello

In the QTC Cup two weeks ago Kennewell was left ruing what might have been when the five-year-old went down in a photo, cruelling his chance of gaining a start in Queensland’s most prestigious race.

But there was no stopping the in-form speedster today who settled just behind the leaders before emerging at the top of the straight to quickly hit the front and win by two lengths from Meet George and Pellegrini.

It has been a successful campaign for Conservatorium who was second in the Group 1 Goodwood in Adelaide before arriving in Queensland.

Kennewell said it was nice to pick up a consolation after missing the Stradbroke but hinted that his Queensland campaign may not be over just yet.

“It’s a great consolation [winning the Eye Liner] and you know there’s still a couple of races we could nominate for up here,” Kennewell said.

“We’ll just see how he pulls up.”

One suitable option is the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast in a fortnight where he would face a showdown with last year’s Eye Liner-Glasshouse double winner Belltone.

But Kennewell is keeping one eye on the future and said the Royal Academy gelding will be chasing Group 1 honours in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth in November.

“We’ve got plans to head to the Winterbottom in Perth later in the year so we’ll probably run him in Melbourne then catch the plane over,” he said.