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In a very strangely run race, it was a David Payne in-form horse that was just able to win the Newcastle Cup.

Winning Glory went forward from his wide barrier (12) and worked to the lead at the 1600m before easing to travel in third place. He went to second at the 800m as the race had changed suddenly as he set out after a tearaway leader (Tenby Lady) who took off in mid-stages. He drew to the lead at the 300m and then fought on gamely, just lasting to win well after his early efforts.

Lucripetous was always well back and he was a distant last (about 20 lengths from the leader) and under pressure at the 600m chasing a solid pace. He kept making ground from that point, switched wide at the 200m and came with a solid run for a late-closing second.

Peal Of Bells was a distant tenth at the 600m, worked up wide under pressure rounding the turn, looked a winning chance at the 200m and then battled on for third. Ghost Protocol was midfield and hard ridden at the 600m but he kept responding and put in a run at the 200m before battling on for fourth.

The favourite Danas Best led early, was handy on the rails, then under pressure when a distant fourth at the 600m. He just struggled from that point and kept plugging on to finish a moderate seventh (beaten two and half lengths).

His stablemate Tenby Lady was a fourth in the early stages and Jim Cassidy let her stride as she took the lead at the 1200m. She then set up a big lead, setting a solid pace, before tiring in the straight to finish (three lengths) eighth.