One of them is Moira Munroe who in her first racehorse ownership took over the breeding of Island Dane after her husband Ken passed away, and the other is Wingham trainer Nick Chambers who had the six-year-old gelding able to step up from 1600m for the first time and win.

The epic finish referred to was in a memorable Cox Plate several decades ago where the two champion gallopers, Bonecrusher and Waverly Star went head and head from the turn into the straight to the finish line - a feat repeated by Island Dane (9-1) and last year’s Taree Cup runner-up, seven-year-old Moonbi gelding Blinkin Easy (10-1) in this year’s cup.

Each galloper in the local cup on Sunday got ahead of one another in a dogged fight and it was Island Dane which prevailed by a short head, with one of the favourites, Kempsey’s Rodeo Playboy (7-2) nearly two lengths away in third.

Mrs Munroe in having her 11th win with Island Dane said the win was “unreal - I didn’t think he would make it.”

Winning jockey, Broadmeadow’s Alison Threadwell, had her fifth win on Island Dane and along with Chambers, her biggest.

“The horse never gives in - he just keeps digging,” she said.

After Island Dane won at Taree on December 5 in another photo finish, Chambers had thoughts of tackling Sydney company with the gelding, but that plan was replaced with the Krambach Cup (1600m) winner being asked to go to 2000m for the first time.

“He has an iron constitution - he’s a real racehorse,” said Chambers.

It was a top ride by Matt Bennett to have Blinkin Easy, trained by Ruth Cooper for Errol French, come from the 16 barrier to settle outside Island Dane after a few hundred metres, and on a leader’s favoured track, they eye-balled one another for the rest of the race.

Race club chairman Don Hopkins described the race as “marvellous” and congratulated Munroe on breeding the winner and French for being a supporter of the club in racing many gallopers at Taree over several decades.

Taree Motorama head Ross Hardes has been in the car business in Taree for 45 years and has been a great sponsor of local racing. Of the winner, he said: “What a horse - your late husband strived to win the cup and you have done it. It is a great day for Taree and the Taree Cup,” he said.