THE Matthew Williams-trained Win O’Clock produced a big finish to land this year’s $60,000 Hamilton Cup.

In front of an engaging Saturday crowd on a typically windy spring day, the former international galloper gave his rivals a start and a beating when coming from well back on the home turn.

Winning jockey, Tahlia Hope, was happy to settle back with the tailenders before angling wide for a run before the home turn.

With a muddling mid-race pace, it took most of the home straight to reel in the leaders before eventually being far too strong to win by one length.

Starting a well-supported $4.20 second favourite, Williams commented post-race that it was matter of the horse being at his best fitness-wise for the first time this preparation.

“He has gradually been getting fitter and today it showed he had finally got there,” he said.

It was the first cup success for both Williams and Hope.

Williams also saddled the shortest priced winner of the meeting when Loose On Gin put a gap on the field in the Dipping Dynamics 3YO Maiden Plate over 1100m.

Cup runner-up, Aravene, was brave in defeat, narrowly denying Warrnambool trainer, Tom Dabernig, a treble, while race favourite, Fearentless, finished fifth after leading and being pressured a long way out by the fourth-placed Team Captain.

Team Captain won the Hamilton Cup in 2021 and can be followed with confidence following his first run since March.

Outside the cup, the series races with finals at metropolitan tracks over carnival time produced two excellent winners in Mawallock and Picaroon.

Mawallock,, trained by Lindsey Smith, overcame a slight setback following his Moonee Valley win to treat his rivals with contempt in the ACE – Radio The Valley Sprinters Cup over 1100m.

Fred Kersley guided the four-year-old mare to a comfortable two-length victory, her fourth win from five career starts.

With the final at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day, it will take a very good galloper to beat her in the final.

Picaroon, the second leg of Dabernig’s training double, was just as convincing in winning in the KINVONVIE – MCC Series heat over 1600m.

Winning rider, Tom Madden, was about the placings all day and deserved this success.

The six-year-old daughter of Fiorente, formerly trained by Michael O’Leary, will head to Flemington for the final on Oaks Day a rock hard fit leading chance.

Dabernig’s other winner was Riverina Power in the Taylor Toyota Maiden Plate over 1400m.

Warrnambool trainer, Mark O’Donnell, produced first starter Prince Sonic as a smart maiden winner in the Midfield Meats 4YO+ Maiden Plate over 1100m.

A handful pre-race, the four-year-old looks to have plenty of upside as he matures.

O’Donnell was part of a strong Warrnambool representation that trained six of the eight winners.

Ballarat trainers landed the other two races with Brady Cross and Matt Cumani winning respective BM58 events with Sir Domigo and Assignment.

Results

Race 1 Dipping Dynamics 3YO Maiden Plate 1100m - 1st Loose On Gin (Jarrod Fry/Matthew Williams) $1.24f; 2nd Star Testymony (Tom Madden/Symon Wilde) $7; 3rd Little Sandy (Tahlia Hope/Symon Wilde) $8.50.

Race 2 Midfield Meats 4YO+ Maiden Plate 1100m - 1st Prince Sonic (Rhys McLeod/Mark O’Donnell) $4.20ef; 2nd Sign From Above (Fred Kersley/Leon & Troy Corsten) $9.50; 3rd Hasta La Chilly (Jack Hill/Sue Murphy) $4.40.

Race 3 Taylor Toyota Maiden Plate 1400m - 1st Riverina Power (Will Price/Tom Dabernig) $13; 2nd Priceless (Jarrod Fry/Paul Preusker) $8; 3rd Bodhisattva (Rhys McLeod/Nick Ryan) $1.70f.

Race 4 Fishers IGA Hamilton 0-58 Handicap 1400m - 1st Sir Domigo (Jack Hill/Brady Cross) $5; 2nd Ceejay (Jarrod Fry/Luke Oliver) $5; 3rd Belluna (Madison Lloyd/Robert Hickmott) $17.

Race 5 Walker’s Earthworks 0-58 Handicap 2200m - 1st Assignment (Will Gordon/Matt Cumani) $6.50; 1st New World Tapestry (Rhys McLeod/Paul Preusker) $2.90f; 3rd Navajo Warrior (Tom Madden/Peter Chow) $6.50.

Race 6 ACE Radio – The Valley Sprinters Cup Series Heat 3 1100m - 1st Mawallock (Fred Kersley/Lindsey Smith) $1.55f; 2nd Port Albert (Rhys McLeod/Nick Ryan) $6; 3rd Dothraki (Ryan Houston/Paul Preusker) $14.

Race 7 KINVONVIE – MCC Series Heat 4 1600m - 1st Picaroon (Tom Madden/Tom Dabernig) $7.50; 2nd Delicious Tycoon (Madison Lloyd/Matt Laurie) $9.50; 3rd Boh Rhap (Will Gordon/Archie Alexander) $8.50.

Race 8 bet365 Hamilton Cup 2200m - 1st Win O’Clock (Tahlia Hope/Matthew Williams) $4.20; 2nd Aravene (Tom Madden/Tom Dabernig) $5; 3rd Donatrice (Will Price/Archie Alexander) $4.40.