Domidor led all the way to take out this year’s $27,000 Bega Cheese Bega Cup at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club on Sunday.

Stephens, 70, won his first Bega Cup at the old Bega course in 1990 with Canny Garinsky when he was one of the region’s leading trainers.

After nearly 10 years off the scene, Stephens returned recently as a hobby trainer with only a couple of horses in work in his stables.

Domidor ($13) put in a strong, tough staying performance over the testing 1600m journey, disputing the lead all the way with local hope and Cup favourite Brimstone ($4) before pulling clear over the 200m to score by three-quarters of a length from last year’s winner Quichang ($4.40), with Sydney galloper Equable ($7) from the Gerald Ryan stable third a further long neck away with Brimstone fourth.

Domidor, owned by Stephen’s son, Matthew, who purchased the horse at the Sydney sales just over a year ago for $2400, put the writing on the wall with his impressive win here over 1600m at the January 2 TAB meeting.

“He had been working well for us at home so that win was not a surprise and we then set him for the Bega Cup,” Steve Stephens said.

“The plan now is to bring him back to the Sapphire Coast for the Merimbula Cup in March.”

Stephens said his choice of apprentice Natasha Winton to take the ride in the big race had been one of those happy associations that happen in racing.

He had been looking for a claiming apprentice on the eight-year-old gelding for an earlier race, and Winton has now ridden the horse four times for two wins and two third place finishes.

Asked which of his Bega Cup wins – 22 years apart – had given him the most pleasure, Stephens said, “They were both pretty good. I am pretty happy about it.”

Other highlights of an outstanding day’s racing in fine, warm weather on Sunday was the winning treble for leading Canberra-based jockey Brendan Ward, a double to Canberra trainer Matthew Dale and the first winner of her career for another young apprentice, Amy Van Der Sanden.

For those fortunate enough to buy tickets in the Punters Club, run by Sydney Racing and Sports editor Chris Scholtz, the $91.40 dividend for their $20 investment was also a very good result.

The day also featured a brilliant win – his 10th from only 25 starts - by Beyond Expectations in the $18,000 Carlton Mid Bega Town Plate over 1200m.

Canberra trainer John Nisbet, whose apprentice daughter Kayla led all the way aboard the high-quality sprinter, said that his future may include races on Canberra’s big Black Opal Stakes Day meeting next month or in Sydney.

Shoalhaven trainer Terry Robinson, who has also won two Bega Cups - with Danebar in 2006 and Star Varrick in 2002 - added the $18,000 Ord Minnett Sapphire Coast Cup to his trophy cabinet with a dominant win by Hustle over the 2200m staying trip.

Beyond Expectation ($5) scored by a neck from I’ve Got a Secret ($21), which flashed home along the fence from last on the turn, in second place with a head to Jondaborg ($5.50) third.

Hustle ($3.70) stamped his staying credentials by blitzing the field in the Sapphire Coast Cup, coming right away in the straight to score by three-and-three-quarter lengths from Gee Eff Cee ($7) from the Sydney stable of Greg McFarlane with Star Hawk ($5.50) a neck away third.

Ward’s three winners came in the first five races.

He took out race one, the Bega Chamber of Commerce Maiden Plate over 1100m on Zartiki ($4.40) for leading Canberra trainer Nick Olive, then followed up by getting Spinner ($4.40) home for Moruya trainer Luke Pepper in the Local Liquor Maiden handicap over 1400m.

His third success was in the Walcott Exploration Services Class Two handicap over 1200m on Prince Warrior ($2.50) for Canberra trainer Matthew Dale.

Dale’s other winner came in the Radio 2EC/Power FM Benchmark 60 handicap over 1000m when the odds on favourite Shoot Thru Blu ($1.80) gave apprentice Amy Van Der Sanden her first winner after just 10 race rides.

“I’m stoked, I’m so happy,” she said in the winner’s stall after Shoot Thru Blu held off the fast finishing Paxton ($15) by a half head with Bay Prince ($4.60) third.

Prince Warrior also led all the way to just hold off Circuit Spirit ($5) with Seanessy ($6) two lengths away third in the Class Two event, while Zartiki was given the run of the race by Ward to down Fire Up Witch ($7.50) by a short half head with Lilly in Love ($3.60) three-and-a-quarter lengths away third.

However, proving that horses could come from well back in the field and win, Organic Grey ($5.50) staged a last-to-first burst to score by a half neck in the Betta Electrical Class Three handicap over 1600m.

Apprentice Jason Collins made a lightning move around the field approaching the 600m mark and peeled widest into the straight to lead clearly until So Excited ($7) emerged from the pack late to go down by a half neck with Golden Dagger ($5) three-quarters of a length away third.

Spinner continued the great run of success for Pepper in the 1400m maiden, coming from mid-field with a strong run through the pack to clear awayto a two length victory from Rules Point ($3.50) with a further length-and-a-quarter to Sialia Magic ($21) third.

Premier Sydney apprentice Josh Adams finished with one winner and a second and a third from his first visit to the Sapphire Coast track while his master, Rosehill trainer Gerland Ryan had to be content with a third placing in the Bega Cup.

Fellow Rosehill trainer Greg McFarlane also finished with a second placing in the Sapphire Coast Cup.

Other highlights of a great day at the track were the Fashions on the Field where three lucky winners won accommodation stays in Sydney and in Ulladulla and two tickets in the Local Liquor corporate box for a Canberra Raiders home game.

Another popular destination was the huge Carlton Beer Truck, which served cold draught beer on tap and provided a spectacular view of the course from its upper deck.

The truck will return for the Sapphire Coast Turf Club’s next race meeting, the Merimbula RSL Club Merimbula Centenary Cup, on March 2.