When local trainer Jo-Anne Dalton put a saddle on Sestina for Sunday’s Gladvale Farms Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park, she expected the $35,000 race to be little more than a pipe-opener ahead of the Cromwell Cup (2030m) next weekend – but the Lonhro mare had other ideas.

Winner of the Listed Bendigo Golden Mile earlier this year in April, five year-old Zoustar gelding Regal Zeus found winning form again on Sunday to take out the $200,000 Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m).