A trip to Melbourne has helped turn promising galloper Taking Aim into a Group One contender in the Queensland winter carnival.

Taking Aim justified a $5 into $3.80 betting move on Saturday when he held on to beat Dissolution ($6.50) in the Group Three Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast, with Lord Cecil ($12) third.

It was Taking Aim's first run since finishing 11th in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield in February.

Paul Snowden, who trains with his father, Peter, said Taking Aim had matured a lot for the trip to the Blue Diamond.

"The Blue Diamond was his first trip away and it did him a lot of good. He's up here for the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes but along with that he will tackle the BRC Sires in three weeks," Snowden said.

"He's a nice horse who has always shown us plenty and we think he will be a lot better for today's run. Wait until he gets up to 1400 metres and 1600 metres.

"We wanted to give him a lead-in run but he would have got too much weight in a maiden so we just gave him another trial."

The win was another for the Snowdens in combination with a syndicate of Newgate Farm, Aquis Farmand the China Horse Club.

Winning jockey Hugh Bowman agreed Taking Aim would continue to improve.

"He had to overcome some problems but was strong at the finish. I think he has a future," Bowman said.

Dissolution was slow to jump and had to go from last to just fall short in a photo finish.

"He's a promising horse and will be improved for that run. I think he will be a good spring horse," jockey Chris Reith said.