TAVION Prince fought back not once but twice to prove he is a country stayer in the making when he swept to victory in Thursday's $75,000 Lismore Workers Club Lismore Cup (2110m).
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The Tamworth gelding's Cup narrow but decisive and valiant Cup win over Top Prospect was also a family affair.
Young Newcastle apprentice Dylan Gibbons rode the Kris Lees-trained Top Prospect while his father, Andrew Gibbons, rode race favourite Tavion Prince.
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Sky Thoroughbred Central commentators Gary Kliese and Priscilla Looker marvelled at how "you couldn't script" a better finish as the two geldings and the two Gibbons' went "head for head down the straight".
In the end it was the father, Andrew, who prevailed as his strength sooled Tavion Prince to his fifth and finest win.
Young Dylan would have lost no admirers either as he pushed his father to the extreme when he sailed up to Tavion Prince at the turn.
He put away the whip in the straight as he concentrated on a hands and heels assault which looked it might just succeed as he took a narrow lead.
Tavion Prince had led the race early and when Partnership staged a mid race dart to lead he fought back to retake the lead before the turn and then be confronted by Top Prospect's arrival.
The horse's trainer, Craig Martin, joked about the hype of father versus son too.
"I told Gibbo (Andrew) Dylan had plenty of time to win a Cup," Martin said as he marvelled at his young stayer's effort.
"It was a very tough win, a good ride by Gibbo. He kept grinding today, he's a good, tough horse."
Tavion Prince cost Martin just $14,000 when he bought him online earlier this year.
He's now won more than $95,000 from three wins in nine starts.
Those three starts show what promise Tavion Prince has, the five-year-old son of Tavistock now successful in a Highway Handicap at Rosehill over 1800m and in two Cups, the Tuncurry and Lismore Cups.
Martin had toyed with the idea of spelling him after his Tuncurry Cup win but when he saw the light entries for the Lismore Cup elected to enter a late nomination.
When he received 55.5kg he was delighted, expecting to cop 57.5kg at least.
He also said before today's Cup win he'd evaluate his campaign, race by race, and could now head to Brisbane.