The punters were celebrating at Wagga Racecourse in country New South Wales this afternoon with favourite Trade Commissioner running down stable mate Beyond Thankful to hand Chris Waller with the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup 2014 quinella.

Winning Montjeu six-year-old came off a second at Sandown just last Saturday over 1800m and handled the short six day turnaround well to storm home in this year’s $140,000 Listed Duke Of Kent Hotel 2014 Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).

It was a big run from the short priced gelding who came from well back in the field to chase down fellow Irish import Beyond Thankful, the duo fighting it out stride for stride on the home straight.

Trade Commissioner though was too good over the final 300m pulling away to show off their sensational turn of foot once jockey Craig Newitt hit the button.

On the line Trade Commissioner had a half-length to spare over Beyond Thankful, gallant in defeat, with the Brett Cavanough-trained Price Of Glory running on for third in a photo for the final minor placing.

“He showed his class,” Newitt told the media post-win.

“He showed a good turn of foot and…he’s been set for the race.

“On top of the ground they’ve always said he’s got a good turn of foot and he’s got a bit of class.

“He showed his authority today.”

It was an emotional win for Newitt who always loves to win a feature race, and who was still grieving after losing his grandfather on Thursday.

“It’s pretty special,” he said.

“My grandfather passed away yesterday and he always liked watching the good horses go around and I’m sure this guy will go onto better things.”

Also emotional were the winning horse’s locally based connections who have been trying to win their home town cup for many decades.

“Very, very emotional,” was how co-owner Richard Pegum described the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup result today.

“We’ve been trying to do this a long time.

“We’ve been coming here for 34 years, and Gary’s been trying for 50 years.

“It’s huge, this is his Melbourne Cup.”

Fellow part-owner Gary Towzell was also trackside, his victory interview cut short due to tears of joy.

“It’s a wonderful thrill,” he said before the emotions took over.

“It’s been a lifetime thing to try and do and I never thought I’d live old enough to do it.”

After an even jump in the Wagga Wagg Town Cup Trade Commissioner and Newitt went back fourth last on the inside getting a lovely trail up on the inside of High Tech.

The pace was definitely on today with Honourable Aussie heading the field before the Liam Birchley-trained Brisbane visitor Trajet moved up on the outside doing hard work from out wide to take up front running.

He led them up the outside in a breakneck speed working hard to be one of the leaders going into the straight before Waller’s duo took over and turned it into a two horse race, the race run in a speedy 2:00.57 minutes.

Trade Commissioner has now won four of their 17 career starts and will be sent out to the paddock to freshen up ahead of a spring return.

“We’ll wait [until the spring],” Pegum confirmed.

“We’ll put him out.”

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