A protest by jockey Hugh Bowman has been upheld and Preferment has been crowned the 2016 Australian Cup winner after passing the post second behind the Team Corstens-trained Awesome Rock.

Preferment jumped from the barriers well and took a position just off the pace of Awesome Rock who set only a fair tempo for the talent-rich field from the outset.

Offered a clear racing line upon arriving at the final straight, Bowman asked the Zabeel entire for an extra effort and locked in a late battle with Awesome Rock, who was found to have shifted out and hampered the run of Preferment, who past the post only the bob of a head behind.

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Earlier Awesome Rock was initially handed the win, and jockey Stephen Baster and co-trainer Troy Corstens gave insight into the horse and overall performance in the 2016 Australian Cup.

“I just love him, he’s just been so great to me and the owners have stayed loyal and I’ve ridden for Leon and Troy for years,” Awesome Rock’s jockey Stephen Baster said.

“We all kept complaining because he wouldn’t draw a barrier and was only being beaten a couple of lengths.

“Again today he drew out a bit and we thought we were in trouble, but the horse is just a marvel, he’s just so tough.

“Just thankful for everyone who has kept me on him and let me stick with him. I just love him.”

Co-trainer Troy Corstens was elated with the performance mustered by Awesome Rock to win the Australian Cup

“It was a terrific ride from Stephen, he rated him so well in front and we had discussed doing it, but he was just very patient coming across, took his time to get there and was masterful when he did.

“He’s a beautiful stallion, you only have to look at him in the yard. He’s got his best to come, he’s still not fully mature and he’s going to be a highly-priced commodity when he goes to stud.

“It’s amazing. It’s our first Group 1 since we’ve been in a training partnership and to get a major like this is a massive thrill.”

Punters who backed Awesome Rock to win the 2016 Australian Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on generous $21 odds for success!

2016 Australian Cup Results

Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Starting Price
1	2	PREFERMENT (NZ)	Chris Waller	Hugh Bowman	–	9	59kg	$7
2	8	AWESOME ROCK	Leon & Troy Corstens	Stephen Baster	0.1L	8	59kg	$26
3	9	RISING ROMANCE (NZ)	David Hayes & Tom Dabernig	Craig Williams	1.35L	5	57kg	$11
4	11	FENWAY	Lee & Shannon Hope	Blake Shinn	1.45L	3	57kg	$10
5	5	OUR IVANHOWE (GER)	Lee & Anthony Freedman	Ben Melham	1.55L	1	59kg	$5.50
6	3	EXTRA ZERO	David Hayes & Tom Dabernig	Mark Zahra	1.65L	2	59kg	$41
7	1	HAPPY TRAILS	Paul Beshara	Dwayne Dunn	1.85L	7	59kg	$26
8	6	BOW CREEK (IRE)	John O’Shea	Damien Oliver	1.95L	10	59kg	$3.10F
9	10	SUAVITO (NZ)	Nigel Blackiston	Luke Currie	2.95L	4	57kg	$6
10	7	ALMOONQITH (USA)	David Hayes & Tom Dabernig	Michael Walker	3.05L	6	59kg	$26