Ian Cook produced a masterstroke when the Armidale trainer backed up Rexx from Sunday's South Grafton Cup meeting to win at Grafton on Ramornie Handicap day.
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The former Royal Hotel Guyra publican has a share in Rexx with a large syndicate of Guyra locals after purchasing him earlier this year.
Most of those owners all had a beer or two at the "Top Pub" (Royal) before Cook left.
"A good group of young blokes. It was a good win," Cook said.
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Rexx has had just the three runs for Cook since arriving from the Chris Waller stable in June, scoring fifths at Scone and Grafton.
He was ridden a treat by Shane Arnold on Wednesday.
Arnold led all the way, taking off at the 800 to put three and four lengths on his rivals approaching the turn and the son of I Am Invincible never looked like fading.
The four-year-old gelding won the Class 2 Showcase Handicap by 0.63 lengths over Jeff Englebrecht's High Court and the Craig Martin-trained Tavion Prince.
"He couldn't find the lead [on Sunday]," Cook said.
"Goes better when he can find the front. He also needed the run. It topped him off after he had run a good race.
"It was good for Shane, too. He had been offered another ride in the race but stuck with him. He was pretty confident, too, and that was also his first win back from a long injury layoff."
The win also had a financial fillip for the owners. "We paid $10,000 for him and he won $15,000 today. Paid his way now," Cook said.
In the main race, Signore Fox took out the win while Cody Morgan's runner Ozark finished sixth.