And he might even deliver an Armidale Cup in the New Year as well.

The Mark Mason-trained gelding won the feature race by a neck from Fuji Kid (Ernie Vine) with Newcastle mare Dusty Flyer flying late for a nose third.

It was Mr Shinjuku's eighth win in 32 starts and his seventh since being leased by a Tamworth syndicate containing Anthony Dutton, Guy Mason, Scott Simpson, Jim Taggart and Paul O'Sullivan.

"A nice Christmas present," Anthony Dutton said.

Syndicate member Scott Simpson was elated.

"We've had him 11 months and had him for all bar one of his eight wins. Not bad for the one preparation too."

Mark Mason said the five-year-old gelding, a son of Filante, will now go for a short spell.

"We'll bring him back for Armidale."

Darren Jones was the winning jockey and notched his 22nd win of the season.

The Tamworth jockey didn't have to wait long for his 23rd win when he led all the way to win the Bartercard 2 & 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m) .

"Once she settled at the 400m she was right," Jones told trainer Craig Martin.

The grey three-year-old filly was having her fourth start to notch her first win.

"I've backed her last two starts and didn't have a cracker on her today," Martin said.

"She ran fourth at her first start to Offshore Account and The Jackal then missed the start at Quirindi (eighth to Snowdropping). Last start she ran on a slow track."

Yesterday Al Ward jumped straight to the lead and never looked like being run down, beating the Mack Griffith-trained Gun Bird by a length and aquarter.

Al Ward also ran a smart 58.4secs.