The John Justice-trained and driven five-year-old produced a career-to-date best to triumph in the $25,000 Aldebaran Park Group 3 Bendigo Trotters Cup.

If ever a trotter had been knocking on the door of a big win it was Hatchback, who had rattled off a strong of eight-consecutive placings before Friday night, including a last-start second behind the star Kate Hargreaves-trained trotter Well Defined in this month's Mildura Trotters Cup.

The son of Angus Hall and Jauriol surged late to finish over the top of Jackson Square and the pacemaker Norquay, who gave his seven rivals plenty to chase out in front before finishing a gallant third.

A thrilling win for Hatchback and Justice denied Tornado Valley, who was sent around as a $2 favourite, his big milestone.

The Andy Gath-trained champion was aiming to push past the $1 million prize money barrier with a win, but had to be content with sixth place.

Justice, who broke a long Bendigo Trotters Cup drought, having won the race once previously in 1995 with Lenin, could not have been prouder of Hatchback, who raced three back on the pegs for much of the trip before making his move to the outside on the turn.

"He's been so unlucky this little horse. He's trying his heart out and seems to keep running into one better," Justice said on Trots Vision.

"He's tough, he's versatile, he can lead, he can sit outside the leader and he's proven tonight that he can actually sit and sprint, which he hasn't done before.

"He's just a lovely horse and I'd love a stable full of them."

"The only worry I had was whether he could get out soon enough, but as soon as he strode out and once he got clear, he felt like he was going to win."

The win was Hatchback's seventh from 44 career starts.

Underlining the consistency that has been a feature of his racing this season, the five-year-old has run 23 additional placings.

Sparkling Success, who started alongside Tornado Valley off 30m, finished fourth, while Nephew of Sonoko for the trainer-driver team of Leigh Graham and Brian Gath flashed home for fifth in a sign of promising things ahead.

The win pushed Hatchback (eight points) into equal-fourth spot on the prestigious Maori's Idol Trotting Championship behind the runaway winner Well Defined (35), Stress Factor (17) and Travel Bug (13).

Bendigo region winners on a big night of racing included Polly Peachum for trainer Bruce Morgan abd driver Tony Vlaeminck, Yankee Twister, who broke his maiden for trainer Jim Grant and driver Ron Wicks, and Chronicles, who saluted at the long odds of $41.90 for the trainer driver combination of Brad Stevens and Ashley Manton.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.