The 72-year-old Toowoomba trainer and his small team of gallopers have enjoyed a purple patch in form dating back to the middle of December.

John Thomas has put the polish on seven winners from his last 16 starters, which have come across all three levels of racing – city, provincial and on the bush circuit.

"They have been going well," Thomas said.

The barn collected their second metropolitan victory for the year on Saturday when Tuhinga defied a betting drift to land the Benchmark 75 Handicap from Doomben over a mile.

Thomas – who has held a licence for almost half a century – believes his loyal team of track work riders have led to the strong run of results for the stable.

Apprentice hoop Jade Metcalfe, Rosemary Sherwood and Casey Kowaltzke have all played their part, Thomas says.

"I am very happy with the track work riders that I have now and have had since the middle of October last year until now," the veteran trainer said.

"My horses have been worked really well by good, reliable track work riders.

"I would really like to stress that as these girls turn up every morning without fail. It is good when you have got good track work riders – it makes a big difference. It means a lot."

Overall this season, Thomas boasts the strongest strike rate he has had in over a decade, going at 16.3 per cent as well as having horses placed at 36.7 per cent. 

Metcalfe is indentured to fellow Clifford Park trainer Wayne Nugent.

The 19-year-old began her race riding career in perfect fashion in the middle of June last year by riding a winner on her first day as a professional jockey at Warwick.

Metcalfe has since then been through a few injury concerns and earlier this month at Roma took her first ride back since the middle of November.

As well as Tuhinga, Thomas has also taken She's Pushy, Expectant (twice) and Mos Out to the races in recent months and come home with the prize.

He says young track work rider Sherwood has been key.

"She has been the main one," Thomas said.

"She has hung in there and done the work every day. She has really helped me out."

From the nine alley, hoop Georgina Cartwright fired Tuhinga out of the machine and was able to lob on the fence behind the leader in the early stages.

After they turned for home, Cartwright stuck to the inside and did not need to go around a horse to score from Vendidit in a close finish. 

Tuhinga has now won four times for the Thomas stable.

They have all come since the middle stages of November last year.

The five-year-old gelding has now won three of his last four starts this year.

"He just peaked on his run in that 1800 metre race not long ago," Thomas said of Tuhinga's only defeat this year which occurred earlier this month at Eagle Farm.

"I thought bringing him back to the mile would help.

"I have got a good group of guys that own him and own a number of horses with me, the Lightning Syndicate.

"They are electricians and tradies – knockabout fellas – they own a few horses with me and are local guys in Toowoomba."

Thomas has trained out of Toowoomba for the last 25 years after previously preparing a stable in Central Queensland where he was based working in the mines.

The trainer has maiden galloper Stella Enigma entered for Thursday's Ipswich program.