King Latarmiss, a $51 bolter, gave bookmakers a bonanza result in the Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast when ploughing through the heavy going for a convincing 2 1/4 length win over Scattergun yesterday.
It was the biggest success for a couple of old bush mates, trainerTrevor Miller and jockey Ken Pope.
Brave frontrunner Cold Start fought on tenaciously to fill third, a further 2 1/4 lengths away.
Miller and Pope started their careers at different times at Cunnamulla in south-west Queensland before fate saw both eventually settle on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane.
Miller has been training for 35 years and has won 12 local premierships and Pope leads the Caloundra jockeys' premiership as he bids for a sixth local title.
Miller has won bigger races but rated the thrill of becoming a home town hero along with Pope as one of the best moments of his career.
"I've tried to win this race five times so far and King Latarmiss ran fourth in it two years ago," he said.
"I've won bigger races before like the Lightning Handicap and QTC Cup in Brisbane with Heavenly Knight but this is just as big a thrill."
Miller now plans to nominate King Latarmiss for next week's Queen's Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm but is unsure whether to run then or wait for the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 12.
"I'll nominate him for the Queen's Cup and see how he pulls up but he's definitely a wet track horse," Miller said.
"The Grafton Cup would probably be better than the Queen's Cup unless it's wet next week."
Pope, 34, has been in Caloundra for 15 years after cutting his teeth for five years in south-west Queensland, where he first met Miller.
