The three-year-old gelding has always shown promise throughout his brief career, but failed to break through in five previous starts.

Given every opportunity by Teodore Nugent, Travail was able to underline his potential by mowing down the Brent Stanley-trained frontrunner Sweet Gift, to score a last stride win over 1100m.

The win for Fliedner, who headed to Wangaratta with a string of four placings from his last seven starters under his belt, was his first since the success of Hi Stranger on Bendigo Cup Day (October 30) and came as a relief on two fronts.

"I haven't had a winner for a little while and this horse has been overdue for a win," he told broadcaster Racing.com

"He's shown ability, but he's been a bit awkward. He's a big gangly horse and we've had to just mix his training around a little bit.

"His run three or four weeks ago was a nice run - we just wanted to build him up a little bit.

"He probably ran up to what he did at his last run (at Bendigo) when he ran second. He may go on with it now."

Fliedner conceded he had always had a high opinion of Travail.

The gelding kick-started his career in a $125,000 two-year-old race at Flemington in May last year, before having a crack at the $100,000 VOBIS Gold Elvstroem Classic (1300m) at Swan Hill in June and finishing sixth.

"In that race at Swan Hill he sat four-deep - it was a lot better than you would think, but it gets gobbled up in the history," he said.

"I'm glad he's won a race, especially for the owners."

Nugent, who boosted his season tally to 31 wins, was left impressed by Travail's finishing burst.

"He needed every bit of that 1100m - he was really strong through to the line late," he said

"As they rolled along we had a lovely run in the box-seat, needed the splits when we got them and he was strong late."

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