Scorched Earth finally made the breakthrough on his ninth start, as he just held on in the Hydrotech Handicap.

Beaten just half a length into second on his penultimate outing at Ballinrobe, the son of Zoffany finished fourth behind Metier at Gowran on Wednesday last.

Backed from 4s into 5/2 on-course this evening, the chestnut victor was sent straight to the front by Colin Keane.

He wandered around in the closing stages and was all out at the line to just hold off Cosmic Horizon by a nose.

The runner-up, who was returned the 9/4 favourite, made up good ground in the straight, but just couldn't reel-in the winner and ultimately had to settle for second under Donnacha O'Brien.

The front two went four and a quarter lengths clear of Ideal Pal in third, with this one returned at 8/1 under Nathan Crosse for Michael Mulvany.

"He did his best to throw it away!" said Lyons.

"It was a great ride. We dropped him into a handicap as we'd given him enough chances in maidens.

"How far could he have won, or should he have won. Shane said he was looking at the screen but I said if it wasn't the screen it would have been something else.

"I don't know how he's managed to stay a colt, he's a full-brother to Washington DC. He's managed to avoid the dreaded cut all summer. I'm normally quick to do it so he's obviously quiet at home.

"He's won, he likes the soft ground and there is plenty of interest in him to go the other route (jumping).

"He loves that ground, the softer the better and he was just dossing.

"Colin would have been unlucky to have gotten his pocket picked but the horse didn't help him."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson