Lochinvar Art further staked his claim as Australasia's best pacer with a master class to capture the group 1 $110,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup on Saturday night.
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The Shepparton entire produced a slashing finish to defy a brave challenge by the Clayton Tonkin-trained Out To Play.
Lochinvar Art ($1.04 favourite) was in a class of his own as he drew away by 6.4m after working three-wide early and then sitting outside leader Out To Play ($29.60) over the 2710m.
Second elect with punters Wolf Stride ($14.90) flew home from back in the pack to get third without ever threatening the leaders.
Shepparton trainer-driver David Moran now takes Lochinvar Art to the group 1 $500,000 AG Hunter Cup at Melton on Saturday, February 6.
Moran said the victory was an ideal lead-up to the Hunter Cup.
Reinswoman Kate Gath ensured there would be a dash home with a relatively easy tempo up front early - a tactic which ultimately suited Lochinvar Art, with Moran not having to hustle him.
Moran is enjoying the time of his life with Lochinvar Art, which has now earned $1.083m from 27 wins in 49 starts.
Lochinvar Art has the potential to double his stakes in the weeks ahead, with Moran to take him to Sydney for the Miracle Mile after Victoria's Summer of Glory Carnival, which began in Ballarat.
Lochinvar Art became the first since Ballarat's own Sting Lika Bee in 2007 to complete the Ballarat-Shepparton Cups double.
And with the rarity of no New Zealanders in the field, he also became the first Australian-trained winner of the cup since Im Corzin Terror (trained by Amanda Grieve) in 2014.
Out To Play led home the Ballarat charge in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Bray Raceway.
Somewhere Secret was the first of Emma Stewart's starters across the line.
