The Bob Donat-trained gelding made it three wins in succession when it relished the wet conditions at Bendigo in the Apiam Bendigo Cup Ben chmark 70 Handicap (1300m).

With Dylan Dunn in the saddle, Tatunka won by the best part of three lengths.

Tatunka's usual pattern is racing off the speed, but Dunn showed his smarts by riding the four-year-old outside the leader.

Read more: "Miracle baby" Tatunka delights Donat

Dunn controlled the race from the front and, when he asked Tatunka to go up a gear at the 200m mark, they put a space on their rivals.

It was Tatunka's fifth career win from 13 starts and the victory took his career earnings past the $100,000 mark.

Southern Turf, trained at Kyneton by George Osborne, battled hard to finish in second place.

Tatunka is now likely to head to a benchmark 78 grade race in Melbourne.

The other impressive winner at Bendigo today was the team Hawkes-trained American Whiskey.

Despite not appearing to handle the wet track, American Whiskey led all the way over 1400m to break its maiden at its second career start. Wayne Hawkes said the three-year-old colt would be better on a firmer track and over more ground.

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