Katsidis plants seed with Acorns

Controversial jockey Stathi Katsidis put his troubled past behind him and laid the platform for a successful winter carnival when he lifted Acorns to victory in the $100,000 Golden Stakes Plate at Doomben.

Katsidis only returned to riding two weeks ago from a self-imposed lay-off to get his weight under control and Acorns was his first winner since his return.

"That was good for my confidence, it's always good to get your first winner back," said Katsidis, a dual Brisbane premiership winner.

"If the photo had gone the other way I might have been questioning my timing but my judgment is spot-on and things are looking up."

Acorns gave Katsidis his third win in the Golden Stakes (1200m) when he held off a determined challenge from Youthful Jack ($9) to score a half head win with Left Standing ($12) a further three-quarters of a length third.

Katsidis previously won the Listed event on Show A Heart in 2000 and Tellson in 2001.

Acorns started the well backed $2.05 favourite but the Bruce McLachlan-trained juvenile gave his supporters plenty of concern in the straight.

Having his first start in blinkers, Acorns travelled comfortably outside the leader and looked set to dash clear when he found the front but the horse floundered and Katsidis needed all his vigour to lift him over the line.

Katsidis said he thought Acorns was set for an easy win but the horse stargazed when he found the front and wasn't comfortable with the blinkers on.

"He still doesn't know what it's all about yet," Katsidis said.

"He looked around when he got to the front and I'm not sure if the blinkers were much of a help to him.

"I'll leave it up to Bruce whether he leaves the blinkers on or takes them off, I think he'll race better ridden of the speed."

McLachlan said Acorns would have his next start at Doomben on May 24 en route to his ultimate goal, the Group Two QTC Sires' Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 31.

"I'll think about the blinkers, that was his first go in them and he might learn a lot from that," McLachlan said.

"He'll also improve a lot with that run under his belt, he only had one half mile gallop going into that race and he'll be a much fitter horse next time."

Youthful Jack will again clash with Acorns at Doomben in two weeks and the Sires' and his trainer Rex Lipp said he was confident of turning the tables when the pair get to Eagle Farm.

"They won't beat him in the Sires' when he gets to Eagle Farm, I've never had a more relaxed two-year-old and he will be a better three-year-old," Lipp said.