About 50 revellers including family, relatives, friends and racing folk, including a celebrating on the injured list from Sydney racing, Port jockey Andrew Adkins, swirled around McCudden and his five-year-old gelding in the winner's enclosure.

The trainer seemed overwhelmed by the stunning win by just over 1.5 lengths and the spontaneous crowd reaction.

He was also the strapper as he posed for quick photos and then carved a way through the crowd before the presentation ceremony as he had to finish official duties and take the gelding to the swabbing stall.

As he was leaving he said the race was "pinched" at the 600m.

"Pop (his grandfather and tutor, Port trainer Glen Hodge) for the past 12 months said he was a stayer," he said.

It was a welcome turnaround for McCudden who races Dangerous Dan in ownership with his parents, Hodge and relatives as he holds the major share.

Only three weeks ago he said he was broke and needed a win as he outlined the riding instructions which would prove the galloper's worth if franked in a race.

They were to be in a event with speed, settle comfortably and then use the horse's known sprint, the instructions carried out by Port jockey Luke Rolls who was over the moon with the win and that the gelding revelled in getting 1800m for the first time.

Six-year-old gelding Towel Token ($8), trained at Taree by Colin Hughes chased well for second, just under a length in front of Port's prolific placegetter Blinkin Snazzy ($3.20), trained by Tom Higgins.

The record crowd enjoyed beautiful sunny weather, the good track, and the upgrade to facilities to make patrons more comfortable.

Rolls along with local trainer Colt Prosser had winning doubles, the two combining with seven-year-old mare Manning Treasure ($2.80) to score by just under a length in the M&S Print Benchmark 45 Handicap over 1000m.

Prosser said the mare had done well in winning its fifth race despite "a few issues" and probably would be retired.

He finally "pulled a rabbit out of the hat" with six-year-old gelding Nic And Run ($2) which in coming from a spell with jockey Robert Agnew on board won its first race at its 38th start.

But you can't deny the galloper's credentials as it also had 16 placings and swelled its prizemoney to just over $67,000, it now probably will be retired if no-one wants to buy him.

And you can't stop a worthwhile trier from winning, even though Kempsey gelding French Command ($8), trained by Hilary Dew and ridden by his four kilo apprentice Jayden Barrie, is a 10-year-old.

The old boy was always in the leading division and held on for a half-head win from Wauchope gelding Stoddart ($4), trained by Michael O'Neill.

Port trainer Peter Cheers also had something to cheer about when his five-year-old mare Snuggle Bug ($8), having its 36th start, had its first win in scoring by just over a length with Port apprentice jockey Liam Blanch in the saddle, in the Colin Maxwell Memorial-Inland 4WD Maiden Plate over 1650m.

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