It was trainer Tas Morton's long desire to score in the cup after his seven-year-old gelding was beaten a half-length by Chamisal last year after running fourth with his O'Driscoll in the same race the year before.

It was the gelding's eighth win and took its prizemoney to more than $210,000 after it failed a vet's test when sold to Sydney trainer Chris Waller and was then given by the owner to Morton to try his luck.

After it failed in the Walcha Cup early this year, Morton gave the gelding a long spell and had ideas of retiring the galloper until former top Mid North Coast jockey Peter Graham commented how well Mister Smartee had spelled, then deciding on another campaign.

"She rode my horse a treat...she is a good, little rider," Morton said of McDonnell who had her second winning double in a week, the other at Port on Saturday.

She said Mister Smartee had problems but only carrying 53 kilograms was able to wait well into the straight to make her move.

He scored by more than two lengths from the favourite Margie Bee with about the same margin back to Taree's Party Host.

The second and third galloper will probably now be aimed at the $100,000 Taree Gold Cup over 2000m on November 21.

McDonnell's other win was on three-year-old filly Vicky's One, which scored by a half-length with a great finish for Taree trainer Glen Milligan in the Iron Jack Plate over 1250m.

The jockey owned up to following the wrong horse when beaten on the filly at its previous start but all was forgiven this time.

"I have been tough on her but she excelled today," Milligan said.

"I hope if the filly is good enough she could be a Country Championships galloper next year."

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