Our Bottino claimed Sunday’s Bairnsdale Cup for trainer Matthew Williams in fine conditions, holding on for a narrow win in an entertaining finish.

Ridden by Damien Thornton, Our Bottino, paying $22.20, held a head margin over the fast-finishing Laughing Heir at the line with Smart As You Think half a length back in third spot.

Leading fancies, Another Coldie and Holy Snow, finished fourth and fifth respectively, beaten by more than one length each.

Winning jockey, Thorton, was thrilled with the ride.

“It’s really good to come this far – it’s a long way from Warrnambool, but if you put in the hard work you’re going to get the rewards,” he said.

“I did a little bit of work to get there, but not as much as I thought, and I was able to get a somewhat cheap furlong up the back.

“If you can get him rolling a fair way out and get off the bridle then he is pretty hard to catch.”

It was the third country cup success for Our Bottino, who finished fourth in last year’s Bairnsdale Cup, having won last year’s Camperdown Cup and Horsham Cup.

The track was upgraded from a good four to a good three before racing began.

Bairnsdale Racing Club manager, David Power, said everyone who attended enjoyed the day.

“The ladies’ marquee, which we partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, had really strong bookings as did the tradies marquee,” he said.

“We had corporate dining with Andrew Rule speaking about crime stories. Peter Moody (Black Caviar trainer) was there as well. There was also stuff for the kids.

“We had the western districts represented on the day and local guys as well. It was a really strong field.”

Earlier in the day Mornington trainer, Rick Harrison, had the opening winner as Saorsa led from start to finish to claim the 1000m maiden.

Sharyn Trolove’s Moonlight’s Reward and Robbie Griffiths’ Oceanity rounded out the top three, unable to catch the fast starting Saorsa.

The 1200m three-year-old maiden was a much tighter affair as Caulfield trainer, John Salanitri, saluted with Basil Brush by a nose from Grey Khan. Really Swish placed third after storming home in the final 200m.

Race three was just as close with Cranbourne trainer, Shea Eden, holding on with Indiana Lily to pip Cranbourne trainer, Robbie Laing’s Stars Of Carrum in the 1600m maiden. Indiana Lily sat in sixth with 400m to go before surging late to hold off Stars Of Carrum.

Caufield’s Clinton McDonald took out the 1600m race four handicap with a superb ride by Koolma Bay, who charged home to win by four lengths from Crisis Point and Lady Annabel.

Race five saw favourite Toy Boy, for Cranbourne’s Greg Eurell, edge Kane Harris’ Jemadar in the 1200m benchmark 78 1200m handicap – The Tesbury Jack Sprint.

Jemadar led for much of the race before a fast-finishing Toy Boy hit the front in the final 200m.

Mornington trainer, Matt Laurie, had the race six win as Rainbow Girl claimed victory in the benchmark 64 1000m handicap. Sale’s Damien Walkley had to settle for a second place finish with Go One Better, while the Rob Gillahan-trained, Northkape, round out the placings.

Mornington’s Pat Carey was the final trainer to salute on a quality day of racing, as Captain Rhett won the benchmark 64 2000m handicap by two lengths from Gillahan’s Don’t Shoot.

Now with its premier race day complete, the club is gearing up for its biggest social outing – the Melbourne Cup Day races.

“We are expecting more than 2000 people,” Power said.

“We have already had very strong bookings for marquees and corporate dining. It is shaping up to be a huge day.”

PICTURED: Jockey, Damien Thornton, took the Matthew Williams-trained Our Bottino to a super Bairnsdale Cup victory at Bairnsdale Racing Club last Sunday, winning by a head.