Sunshine Coast trainer Natalie McCall believes River Lad is racing pain-free for the first time in his career.

Back problems have continually dogged River Lad but McCall said a lot of time and painstaking care was the key to his victory in Saturday's Bribie Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

"He spent a lot of time on the water walker and treadmill before he came back into the stable and since then we've had no problems with his back," McCall said.

"I think that's been the key to getting him to produce his best and I don't do much with him on the track just a lot of long, slow work and not a lot of galloping."

River Lad ($8) responded to Eddie Wilkinson's vigour to stave off a determined challenge from Metallurgical ($12) to win by a length with equal favourite Signified ($7) a long neck away third.

McCall believes the time is right to test River Lad in weight-for-age company with the Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 27 likely to be his next start.

"In the past he's been a bit immature but this is his best campaign by far and the penny has finally dropped with him," she said.

McCall will enter River Lad for the feature sprints during the winter carnival including the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June.

Wilkinson said River Lad has to be ridden quietly to produce his best but was impressed with the gelding's will-to-win when he was challenged strongly by Metallurgical.

"He got to the front a bit sooner than I would've liked and was inclined to stargaze a bit but when I asked him for an effort he dug deep and was too tough for the second horse," Wilkinson said.

River Lad was the second leg of a winning double for Wilkinson who scored earlier aboard Navelina but incurred a seven-meeting suspension after pleading guilty to careless riding.

The Pat Duff-trained Steel Zip was rated desperately unlucky by jockey Brad Stewart after the grey stormed home to finish fourth after being badly blocked in the straight.