A typically heady ride from top Central Districts jockey Johnathan Parkes paved the way for the ultra-consistent Five To Midnight to take out the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup at Awapuni yesterday.
The Lisa Latta-trained galloper carried 60kg as the clear topweight for the race, with Parkes mindful of ensuring he didn't cover an inch of extra ground throughout the 2100m contest.
Allowed to lob along at the rear of the 10-horse field, Five To Midnight produced an irresistible home straight burst when asked for an effort by Parkes as he drew clear of minor place-getters Ringo and Balham in the final 100m.
The Domesday six-year-old looks to have strengthened significantly for his current campaign after winning on the middle day of the Hawke's Bay spring carnival before finishing a creditable eighth in the group one Livamol Classic (2040m).
"He's furnished into a much stronger horse this time in," Latta said.