Anthony Azzopardi has 25,000 reasons to smile after his strategy for Fancy Top paid off in style in last night's Cosmic Rumble Gold Cup (516m) decider.
A super 29.81 run saw Azzopardi's charge (pictured) take out the feature race of this year's Dubbo racing carnival as a $5.60 shot.
Jumping from box three, Fancy Top surged past early leader Tullabung Honey ($2.90F) at the first corner and held off $7.50 shot Still Searchin' to claim a memorable length-and-a-half success.
Trainer Azzopardi said afterwards he had targeted this race for Fancy Top and her fellow finalist and kennelmate Topper Road several weeks ago - and was delighted with the outcome.
"The way the box draw panned out I thought Topper Road probably wouldn't be able to go with Tullabung Honey early," he said. "That helped her get to the rail.
"When she held her out to the first turn I got more confident because I know she runs out a strong 516m.
"It's never easy to plan too far ahead with dogs because things can change pretty quickly but I saw this race a couple of months ago and thought it might suit them both.
"Thankfully they both got through to the final. There can only be one winner so I'm glad one of them won the race."
Click here to watch a replay of Fancy Top's winning run.
Victory in the $25,000-to-the-winner race was the biggest so far in the career of Fancy Top.
The triumph took the record of the daughter of Cosmic Chief x Armatree Elle to nine wins and four minor placings from 30 starts.
Still Searchin' produced a terrific late finish to seal second place, with Tullabung Honey holding on for third.
Two other sprinters caught the eye on a record-breaking night of racing at Dubbo.
The Neil Staines-trained Country Gun shaved .01 off the 318m track record while claiming the Unibet Slouch Hat Final in 18.02.
Earlier, Ray Smith's Irinka Tyson underlined his status as one to watch with a superb 18.03 effort in the Shakey Jakey Future Stars Maiden Final over the same distance.
No-one left the meeting happier than Azzopardi, though.
"I've been coming to Dubbo for about 20 years so to win this race is really special for me," the western Sydney trainer said.
"This club is a great little club and this carnival is growing every year.
"To come out and win the main race of the week is a big thrill."
