BENDIGO jockey Brad Rawiller won his first Warrnambool Cup on Thursday and in doing so delivered Ballarat trainer Darren Weir a new Mercedes.
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Rawiller rode race favourite Akzar to an emphatic six-length win in the $200,000 event.
Weir collected the keys to a Mercedes for winning the trainers' bonus - four wins for the carnival, including one of the feature races.
Weir had won six races at the carnival leading into the Cup and needed Akzar or stablemate Shiney Buttons to win the Cup to land the prize.
"Darren winning the car is just sensational,'' Rawiller said.
"He deserves it. I'm just so happy for Darren and for everyone that is involved in this horse."
Akzar relished the heavy conditions and the step up in distance to 2400m.
Rawiller was happy to trek wide on Azkar ($3), surging to the front at the 400m mark.
The gelding burst clear to win by six lengths from Westsouthwest ($14), with Shoreham ($21) third.
"The race couldn't have worked out better,'' he said.
"You can't hold them up on this ground and expect them to sprint.
"I was happy to ride him wide and let him roll.
"He's got a great sprint this horse and he was never going to get beaten."