Imported stayer Trade Commissioner has led home a Chris Waller-trained quinella in the $140,000 Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup.
The heavily backed favourite at $2.70, Trade Commissioner came from the back in a fast-run race to beat stablemate Beyond Thankful ($6) on Friday.
They dominated the finish with Price Of Glory ($18) taking the minor placing.
Trade Commissioner is a six-year-old by Montjeu who is in his first Australian campaign for Waller and a group of owners including Richard Pegum.
Pegum, who grew up in Wagga Wagga, has won races all over the world but a Gold Cup win had been elusive.
“I’ve been trying to do this for a long time,” Pegum said. “I’ve been coming here for 34 years.”
Trade Commissioner has been entered for the Doomben Cup later this month but Pegum said it was likely the stayer would be spelled.
Craig Newitt settled Trade Commissioner towards the tail of the field while Beyond Thankful raced close to a solid speed provided by the Queenslander Trajet and front-running Sydney stayer Honourable Aussie.
The leaders were beaten when they reached the 400m, leaving Beyond Thankful to hit the front for Sydney rider Jason Collett.
But it wasn’t long before Trade Commissioner made his bid after Newitt angled the gelding into the clear towards the centre of the track.
The stablemates had the race to themselves from the 200m with Trade Commissioner getting the better of Beyond Thankful to win his first Australian race.
“He showed his class … he showed a good turn of foot which he didn’t show at Sandown the other day,” Newitt said.
“He was set for the race and it is good when it comes off.”
Trade Commissioner won three races up to 2000m in an English career kept to 13 starts.
