Ridden patiently at the rear of the field and ‘turning it on’ at the top of the straight is a trait now common with Kovalica as the three-year-old gelding notched his fourth win in five starts in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m).

Traditionally a lead-up to the Group 1 Queensland Derby when run in May, the Grand Prix was moved to December in 2021 and won by Gypsy Goddess who then went on to take the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) six months later.

Kovalica will be aiming to do similar as blue ribbon features including the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick during The Championships in April and the Queensland Derby over the same distance are firmly in trainer Chris Waller’s sights.

Kovalica ($1.45 favourite) scored by more than 1½-lengths over the Les Kelly-trained Noah ‘N’ A Deel ($6.50) with Kandos Cosmos ($9.50) a further length away in third.

Kovalica’s debut at Newcastle on October 15 delivered a fourth placing and since then wins at Wyong, Warwick Farm, Doomben and now in this Group 3 event have followed.

“He’s a typical stayer,” Brisbane’s premier jockey James Orman said.

“He bounces out and lobs along off the bridle and when you click him up he’s right there underneath you.

“I got there a lot quicker than I wanted but he’s just going to get better with the better class off races and a bit more competition.”

With the Grand Prix win on the board, Kovalica heads to the paddock with Randwick or back at Eagle Farm, or both, within the son of Ocean Park’s grasp in 2023.