CROWD favourite, both in name and deeds, Who Shot Thebarman has won the A$2 million Sydney Cup at his fifth attempt.

Settled near the tail in the 3,200 metre handicap, the Yamanin Vital gelding rolled back the years to relive the form that saw him run third to Protectionist in 2014 Melbourne Cup.

With just two behind him in the 17-horse field, Blake Shinn waited till just before the 600-metre mark before making his run.

Quickly into the race, Who Shot Thebarman travelled 10-deep through the bend as Zacada and Sir Charles Road made a dash for the line on the rail.

Hitting the line, a photo was required to resolve the issue as the Zabeel gelding Zacada missed by a bob-of-the-head to Who Shot Thebarman with the Myboycharlie gelding Sir Charles Road a length away in third.

“He’s been such a frustrating horse because he’s run so many great seconds and thirds in Sydney Cups and Melbourne Cups,” said trainer Chris Waller who’d just won a third straight Group 1 for the day.

“He’s given us one hell of a ride. He’s nine years old and if Winx is not a pretty good advertisement on how to look after a horse I think Thebarman takes the cake.

“That’s the best he’s looked today as a nine-year-old. He was a test as a younger horse and we haven’t given up on him and looked after him.”

Drinking

Raced by New Zealander Dan O’Leary and his three brothers and their wives, Who Shot Thebarman is named in honour of their Aunt Julie who was fond of drinking gin. “She would just yell out, ‘hey you kids, who shot the barman?’ That was her call for one us kids to grab her glass and go and fill it up,” said nephew Dan O’Leary.

For the O’Learys their plan is clear. “We want to make history,” said Shaun O’Leary on the prospect of running in a fourth Melbourne Cup.

“He’s just one of those horses. He’s like his owners, getting better with age.”

Highland Reel to stand in Victoria

VICTORIA’S Swettenham Stud will stand Highland Reel in Victoria next season. “Swettenham Stud is extremely excited to have secured Highland Reel from Coolmore Stud for stallion duties in the southern hemisphere,” said principal Adam Sangster.

A son of Galileo out of the Danehill mare Hveger, Highland Reel’s female line is very Australian with his grandam being the Australian Oaks winner Circles Of Gold, who also produced the Group 1 winners Elvstroem and Haradasun.

Ryan’s double

at Pakenham

JUMPS racing returned to Pakenham on Sunday with Tom Ryan to the fore riding a double over the hurdles, headlined by his win on Honey Steel’s Gold in the MJ Bourke Memorial Hurdle.

“He’s a good horse,” said Ryan. “Obviously the favourite (Two Hats) falling made it a bit easier for him but he’s done it very easy it the end. He was idling a bit on his own in front over the last two so there was definitely a bit left there.”

Ryan’s other winner was Like A Carousel while New Zealand visitor Monarch Chimes took out the J.E.H Spencer Memorial Steeplechase for Emma-Lee and David Browne with Richard Cully up.