A tough win by Centre Pivot at Rosehill has allayed trainer John Sargent's fears that cobalt had damaged the horse's feet.

Sargent told Melbourne's RSN Radio earlier this week he was concerned the horse, who has had feet issues, could suffer long-term problems because he was given cobalt.

Centre Pivot, formerly trained by Sam Kavanagh, has been named in an ongoing inquiry as one of the horses administered a substance which contained large amounts of cobalt.

Centre Pivot ($10) was powerful to the line to win the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club Spring Preview by three-quarters of a length over favourite Countryman ($1.80) with Magic Hurricane ($5.50) another 1-3/4 lengths away third.

Sargent said he was relieved by the win, which showed the horse had come through the other side of his cobalt ordeal.

"He's going to get better and can still race to the best of his ability," Sargent said.

Sargent credited the win to a positive ride by Blake Shinn who sat outside leader Countryman.

"The horse jumped and put himself in a winning position," Shinn said.

"He's proven in the past he's a capable galloper and it's great to get him back in the winning frame today."

Sargent said Centre Pivot would be stepped up to a mile next start before the trainer looked for a suitable middle-distance target in Melbourne during the spring carnival.

The Sargent-trained Group One placegetter Thunder Lady finished last in the race while stablemate and 2013 VRC Oaks winner Kirramosa was a solid fifth when she resumed in a 1200m handicap earlier on the program.