Star pacer San Carlo capped a top season of racing with an easy victory in Sunday's $35,000 Warragul Downtowner Pacing Bowl Cup.
The Goulburn Valley trained eight-year-old, finalist in the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship and recent Mildura Cup winner, went straight to the front from barrier six in a small six-horse field and driver Rebecca Bartley controlled the race to suit from the front.
Sprinting the last lap of the Pacing Bowl in 58.6 seconds, San Carlo held a margin of three metres at the finish from outsiders Tough Call and Motu Gatecrasher, who filled the minor placings.
Trainer Stephen O'Donoghue said after the race San Carlo would head to paddock for a well earned spell over winter, and he was hopeful the gelding still had one or two seasons of racing in him.
From only 48 starts San Carlo has won 28 races and nearly $470,000 in prizemoney for his owners, the Eichorn family.
Although the appearance of San Carlo dominated the Pacing Cup, the $14,5000 Eddie Evison Memorial Trotters Cup was a more open race for punters.
A confident front running drive by reinsman Greg Leight with 14/1 shot Laegend paid dividends, with the veteran six-year-old gelding running out a two-metre winner. From 113 starts, Law Legend has won 13 races for trainer Greg Leight.
Gippsland trainers Gary and Debbie Quinlan won two races on Sunday.
Rocknroll Pearl will be aimed at feature events in New South Wales after an easy win in the final heat of the Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship. The four-year-old has qualified for the $40,000 Final at Melton this Saturday night.
Three-year-old Sahara Tiger took on the older horses and won in the third race.
Cranbourne's Jayne Davies also collected two wins on the card with Alliyahs Choice and Betterman Stride, while Iona horseman Michael Hughes produced the consistent trotter Express Yourself for another victory, in what was a good day for local trainers.
Huli Nien was very well backed to win the Rob Lee Warragul Guineas for trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugars.
Although crowd numbers appeared to not increase on last year, the on-course TAB holdings were up, and there was an increase in the number of horses racing at the Cup meeting this year.