Trained by Patrick Payne, Husson Eagle showed he was on target for a defence of the $1 million Magic Millions Sprint in January as he came from back in the field before sprinting clear in Saturday's 1000m race.

"He is very good fresh, but it means he's got a good preparation ahead of him," Patrick Payne said.

"And I reckon this is the most furnished and mature I've ever seen him."

The trainer said the five-year-old always tried really hard and is armed with a good finishing sprint when he gets the right run in a race.

"Michelle suits him because he needs a resting run and then he's got a really good turn of foot," he said.

"But you can get it wrong if he gets exposed too early."

Husson Eagle ($9) settled back and Michelle Payne was able to make her move inside runners in the straight and then took a split before sprinting away to beat Miss Promiscuity by 1-1/4 lengths with a long head to Rock 'n' Gold third.

Husson Eagle is scheduled to have two more starts before the Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast.

"He's always been a really honest, gutsy little horse and today was even more impressive than I thought," Michelle Payne said.

Meanwhile, dual group 1 winner Lucky Hussler has bounced back to top form with a hard- fought victory over Illustrious Lad in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown.

Lucky Hussler had been unplaced in his two starts this spring in group 1 sprints and trainer Darren Weir said it was good to see the gelding produce in Saturday's 1300m group 3 weight-for-age race.

"It was nice to see him attack the line again," Weir said.

"He had a knee chip removed at the end of his last preparation and he's had two runs back in and he had been working a lot better than he had been racing.

"So it was good to see him stretch out and have a crack today."

Lucky Hussler had blinkers removed for Saturday's race, a move Weir said came about after an impressive trial on Tuesday.

"I think he's back on track for the Magic Millions," Weir said.