The decision to remove blinkers from the race gear of promising stayer Shotover River proved a winning one at Doomben on Saturday.

Shotover River ($4) scored his first city win in a year when he beat Freton ($9) by a half neck in The Mater Foundation Handicap (2200m).

The gelding had won a provincial Gold Coast race over 1800m three starts back but had been over-racing in his metropolitan staying race starts.

John Meagher, who trains Shotover River in partnership with his sons Dan and Chris, said it had been decided the blinkers weren't helping the gelding.

"We took them off and then decided to claim 3kg with Luke Dittman. Luke gave Shotover River every chance and it proved the difference," Meagher said.

The Meaghers took Shotover River to Victoria for the spring of 2013 but he failed to travel well.

"He didn't seem to like it down there. But he is a good Saturday horse for around here (Brisbane)" Meagher said.

Dittman said Shotover River had been helped by a fast early pace and had been able to come into the race at the right time.

Geoff Goold on Freton had the hard luck story of the race.

"The jockey on Holly Holy (Ruby Ride) seemed to have her saddle slip, so we had a bit of bad luck going around her," he said.

Meanwhile, trainer Noel Doyle was left to ponder what could have been when Le Val ($5) won the Tattersall's Arcade Hcp (1110m).

"It was only his ninth start because so many things have gone wrong. He has had a throat operation, leg injury and this time in even a hip injury, but had he been sound I have no doubt he could have been a Cox Plate horse. That is how good he is," said Doyle, who trained a Cox Plate placegetter in Kinjite.