Scott Ewen is hoping his marvellous warhorse Bulletproof Boy has raced his way into A G Hunter Cup calculations following his barnstorming win in the Garrards Horse & Hound Bendigo Pacing Cup.

James Herbertson made a three wide move on Bulletproof Boy from back in the field with a lap to travel to sit outside the leader before landing the one out one back trail on the back of Cantfindabettorman.

The leader and $1.50 favorite Tact McLeod appeared to have the race in his keeping on straightening and was still well clear half way down the running when Bulletproof Boy emerged from the ruck.

With Tact McLeod in his sights, Bulletproof Boy ($10) produced his customary dogged will to win and grab the leader in the shadows of post to score by a short half head in a mile rate of 1:55.2.

Herbertson, who’s has had three drives on the horse for two wins, is in awe of the Scott Ewen  trained evergreen pacer.

“He’s just a legend isn’t he, I don’t know how old he is but he’s probably racing at the peak of his powers,” Herbertson said.

“To be able to do mid race work when they were bowling along and still hit the line the way he did is a credit to him and to Scotty and the team at home.

To get him to go as good as he has for as long as he has I don’t know how they do it,” he said.

Amazingly, it was the 10-year old’s first country cup success despite saluting in his 45th career win and Ewen was thrilled at the milestone.

“It’s his first country cup win and while he’s never won a Group 1 he’s won over $600,000 in prizemoney,” Ewen said.

“I really want to have a crack at the Hunter Cup and I think he’s going good enough and hopefully Herbie will be able to drive him,” he said.

Earlier in the night,  the Chris Svanosio trained and driven Arcee Phoenix completed back to back wins in the Group 1 Aldebaran Park Maori Mile.

Svanosio opted to settle his charge mid field in the running line from his wide draw while his stable mate Aroha Koe pressed forward early to find the lead with the $2.60 favorite Queen Elida parked outside the leader.

Despite being three wide without cover for the final 800 metres of the race, Arcee Phoenix ($3.30) powered his way down the home straight to score by two and a half metres from a brave Queen Elida in a time of 1:55.7.

Svanosio said a leisurely 32.1 second quarter made his task more arduous.

“It wasn’t ideal as they weren’t going hard enough for me but I backed that he would be able to do it- that’s one of his great strengths the fact he is versatile and to be able to sit three wide for the last 800 and he actually did it quite well,” Svanosio said.

Arcee Phoenix joins Tornado Valley as the only horses to complete multiple wins in the Maori Mile.

Cheerstolou provided a fillip for trainer Greg Norman when the five-year-old got a photo finish verdict in Worlds Best Hoof Oil Pace.

Norman, who is battling ill health, engaged promising young reinswoman Tasmyn Potter for the race and the 22-year-old made good use of her concession drivers claim with Cheerstolou ($3) scoring by half a head from the $1.65 favorite Anikin.