Timeless jockey Robert Thompson posted his third Coffs Harbour Cup success after piloting the Paul Murray-trained Darci's Affair to victory in the $80,000 country feature on Thursday.
Thompson won his first Coffs Harbour Cup way back in 1983 on Justkez and had to wait until 2014 to register his second win in the race when he saluted aboard Southern Shimmer.
Darci's Affair ($10) started from the outside stall in the field of 16 but was able to cross and sit outside the lead in what was only a moderately-run affair.
The seven-year-old gelding travelled strongly into the straight and was under siege coming to the furlong pole but the guile of Thompson left enough in the tank to hold a long-head margin on the line.
"It was a terrific effort today from the outside barrier we had to push forward," Thompson told Sky Racing.
"He really fought it right out all the way up the straight. Credit to Paul Murray I was on a very fit horse today.
"Each time I asked him to lengthen he gave his all.
"I always love coming here. It's a great carnival, great club and I hope everybody's had a great day."
Gold Horizon ($20) finished runner-up to complete a Murray stable quinella while the John Sprague-trained Glitra ($31) was a further head back in third.
