The well supported Kiwi galloper Addictive Habit was able to recoup some travel expenses with a solid win in the Listed $100,000 Southbank Insurance Brokers Open Handicap (1800m) at the Gold Coast today.

Addictive Habit hits the line hard to win the Southbank Insurance Brokers Open Handicap at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello

The Lee Somervell trained Addictive Habit was specked at longer odds when acceptances were released on Wednesday and after $11 was bet on track today, the five year old still went to the post at the good odds of $9.

The Cambridge trainer said that it has taken Addictive Habit a couple of runs to acclimatise but he felt today’s race was the right one for him.

“He is a really lovely horse has a wonderful personality. He is closely related to the great Rough Habit,” Somervell said.

Winning jockey Michael Cahill stuck with Addictive Habit today after riding him in the Group 1 $650,000 The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 9 when he finished thirteenth and then in the Group 3 $125,000 Programmed Property Services Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) at Doomben on May 23 for a seventh.

“He said to me the last start, Michael said, there is something not quite right with this horse, he is not letting down properly, but I want to stick with him,” Somervell said.

“So whatever it was, a little virus or something or travel sickness.”

Cahill had Addcitive Habit travelling smoothly in third and fourth spot throughout the race and waited until heads were turned for home before letting him stride to the front and was able to hold off the challenges of Made To Order ($71) and the $4 favourite Lucky Lago to win by a length with a neck between second and third.

Kerrin McEvoy gave Lucky Lago a nice run just behind the leading bunch and the Peter and Paul Snowden trained five year old tried hard in the straight to before filling third spot.

Southbank Insurance Brokers Handicap Results