Stawell-based Tre Dieci has taken out the 2019 Murtoa Cup in thrilling fashion.
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The Dane Smith-trained gelding was pushed all the way down the home straight by Terry and Karina O'Sullivan-trained Patch Adams, but held firm to win by a nose. Paul Jones' Barry the Baptist came in third to complete the trifecta for Stawell-based trainers.
Cup-winning trainer Dane Smith preferred to deflect attention and was quick to offer out his thanks after the race.
"Damien and his committee have done a fantastic job with this track. To the owners here, Peter and all the boys, I really appreciate training this horse. He's a great horse to train," he told punters post-race.
Jockey Dean Yendall rode the gelding to the front of a tightly-contested field.
"Big thanks to Dane and Heidi and the kids for driving me crazy the last couple of hours.
"They've really been sticking it up me and helping me concentrate, so it's a great feeling to get a Cup winner for Dane, no doubt," he said post-race.
Smith said he was pleased with the ride and the horses performance since coming out to the country.
"I was stoked with ride," he said. "He went there and toughed it out and it was a good win. He's a good honest front running horse and gives you 100 per cent every time he comes around.
"He's nine years old and came to us from the city after he was past his use-by date down there and has really adapted to the country environment well."
Smith said it was the first time Yendall had ridden Tre Dieci.
"With Dean being local to the area it added to the great day out for racing in the area with Stawell trainers claiming the trifecta as well," he said.
Smith said what's up next for Tre Dieci was still unknown.
"We might have a look at Ararat Cup coming up next month," he said. "He'll go around the country cup circuit, that's the kind of horse he is."
Tre Dieci has won two other country cups in the past 12 months, taking home the Sheep Hills and Edenhope cups last season.
Matthew Williams' Brilliant Concept won the $100,000 Melbourne Cup Country Series first heat, earning passage through to the final on Oaks Day.
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