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Winterfell's been a handful throughout his young career for trainer-driver Mark Purdon but the burden has paid the greatest of dividends in the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship final.
The five-year-old Majestic Son gelding won narrowly from Majestic Man and Massive Metro to cap a superb coming-of-age series, having won his first and third heats and finished fourth in the other.
"He was quite tenacious to the line," Purdon told Sky Racing Active post-race after a testing affair.
From gate two Winterfell was guided to the lead ahead of Victorian hope Big Jack Hammer before being initially crossed by Majestic Man and then retaking the lead as Purdon let his young star dictate terms.
"It was taking a chance, but he wasn't just as relaxed tonight and I thought maybe he was going to get keener behind and I thought Brad (Williamson on Majestic Man)'s done enough that he didn't want the lead."
It was comfortable going until a man well accustomed to big results on this stage, Anthony Butt, loomed in the breeze with Tough Monarch and when the New South Wales entrant tired Massive Metro advanced to Winterfell's outside.
Massive Metro shaded the leader at the final turn and Majestic Man loomed ominously via the sprint lane, but Winterfell had all the answers and claimed the $150,000 crown.
"I was concerned about both of them, they are both really nice trotters," Purdon said. "I had to nurse him around the last corner, once he got around there he trotted faultlessly."
David Aiken-trained Victorian Big Jack Hammer gave ground in the straight to finish seventh.