Toowoomba trainer Rochelle Smith made the four-hour trip down the Newell Highway worth it when Eljetem flew home to win the Pacific National Moree Cup on Sunday.
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Smith had had no luck earlier in the day with Don Almighty (eighth) and Storm Girl (last) missing out on the placings in their races.
However, Eljetem beat Paul Grills’ Melted Moments and Mark Mason’s Skyscraper to claim the cup.
The seven-year-old bay gelding jumped midfield before settling second last.
Eljetem was hooked to the extreme outside of the field by Josh Oliver around the bend and given clear running down the middle of the straight.
Oliver had put his previous two mounts in similar spots down the straight which resulted in a win with Cloud Cover and a second placing with National Trail.
Eljetem ate up the ground to reel in all in front of him to take out the win.
Wayne Oakenfull and Blake Spriggs – who only finished out of the placings on one of his rides throughout the day – combined for a winning double with First Wave in the first race of the day and Puzzling Wonder in the seventh.
