Whatever direction Moore takes though after Gottino’s authoritive victory in the $15,000 Scott Petroleum Burrumbeet Cup, 1800m, yesterday, more silverware is on the cards for the five-year-old. Gottino ($5) went away by more than a length from the Jim Mason-trained Easton ($10) in Ballarat quinella, with Zlatan ($3 favourite) third.

Last year’s Burrumbeet winner Tube was a close up fourth.

Patrick Payne’s hopes of having the rare distinction of riding and training winners of the cup evaporated when the highly fancied Angelology was scratched up at the barrier after a mishap while in the stalls.

Wayne Davis produced a copybook ride on Gottino, easing him out and crossing to the rail to save ground near the tail. He then patiently began to work the gelding through the field going into the last turn and then asked for the ultimate effort in the straight. For the Cranbourne-based Davis, it was also a homecoming of sorts.

He began his riding career in Ballarat. Despite this, it was only the second time he has ridden at Burrumbeet and there was no hiding his joy as he accepted the Murphy Family Trophy as the cup-winning jockey. Moore has enjoyed a great run with Gottino since the son of Johar arrived in his stable at the start of last year after being acquired by his son Shane from New Zealand.

Gottino won twice in NZ and then scored in his first three Australian starts at Ballarat and twice at Bendigo.

The Burrumbeet Cup gives him five wins for Moore and takes his lifetime earnings to almost $100,000.

Moore usually only has just the one horse in work and Gottino has been the perfect successor to smart performer Salvate, which won a Mortlake Cup and was Moore’s previous Burrumbeet Cup runner when unplaced in 2009. 

david.brehaut@thecourier.com.au