Peter Lyon is running out of room for pictures of his winners on the wall at home in Central Otago.
But he might have to make more space for photos of Alpine Heights after his last-gasp victory in Saturday's $50,000 Dunedin Gold Cup over 2400m.
The son of Spartacus squeezed through a small gap to down Dickens by half a head to win his second race on end, after claiming the group 3 Trentham Stakes on January 18.
''He's probably got to be my best horse now, because he's so genuine,'' Lyon said.
''Now he's proving this is his best year. He's quite a good stayer really, isn't he?''He is certainly not bad. The 6yr-old has won three of his nine starts this season, all three victories coming in races from 2000m to 2400m.
The Dunedin Gold Cup became the target for Alpine Heights after his Trentham Stakes win, although Lyon and co-trainer Karen Parsons are quite keen on giving the gelding a crack at the group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa next year.
John Parsons swayed the team's thinking towards Wingatui, but Lyon expects the galloper, whom he bred himself ,will be back up north at some point.
''We won't go up [to the Herbie Dyke Stakes] now but we've got to go up for something.
''When you start level-weighting with horses like Survived, it's hard to see him up there, but we've got to go and have a go now.''
There were plenty of cheers when judge Graeme Rowland confirmed the photo finish had gone the way of Alpine Heights, largely thanks to a crew of seven of Lyon's shearing gang who had made the trip.
''I took a couple of them up to Kumara [last month] just to drive me and for a bit of company. They had a good trip up there, so it's grown from three to eight today.''
Alpine Heights was one of four winners at Wingatui for Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons as Southern Power, Mikabella and Annabel Rose also returned at the head of the field.
Annabel Rose had been absent from the winner's circle since her win in the listed 3yr-old fillies 1400m at Wingatui last March.
''We've probably been a bit slow to wake up that she was looking for a bit more ground,'' John Parsons said.
''She's been going honest-enough races. Her last two runs she had run fourth over a mile so it was a good effort today really, although she raced a bit keen.
Repeat for Captain KirkOtaki trainer Rachael Frost could get used to success at Wingatui - particularly with Captain Kirk.
The 6yr-old sprinter went back to back in the feature sprint on Champions Day after winning by almost a length last year, but there was plenty of distance between Captain Kirk and the second-placed Valiant yesterday - almost six lengths, in fact.
The undulating Wingatui track has proved to be a godsend for Captain Kirk since he arrived with Frost and several other stable mates in December.
''He loves it,'' Frost said.
''Even when you work him, he gets to the bottom of the hill and it takes all the pressure off his knees because he gets to go uphill. It just helps him so much.
Asked whether she had any concerns heading in to Saturday's assignment, Frost smiled and shook her head.
''He galloped pretty good the other day - I was pretty confident. The draw [barrier 11] wasn't going to help us, but he was going to win no matter what.''
As to whether Frost and Captain Kirk will be back next year? ''Why not?''Apprentice jockey Toni Direen was suspended for three riding days following her ride on Blue `N' Gold in the rating 75 2200m at Wingatui on Saturday.
Direen, who defended the charge allowed Blue `N' Gold to shift in, taking in Kina Win who hampered Right Royal Rose.
Her suspension begins on Thursday and she may ride again on February 18.
