Bitter-sweet win in $50,000 feature

HE WON the Golden Guitar, but that victory may have cost him the chance of being the 'golden child'.

Driving Exclusive Hustler to capture the $50,000 Tamworth-based feature, it's fair to say Jye Coney was pretty pleased with himself.

In a bitter-sweet moment, however, Coney's mother, Sharon, wasn't as thrilled.

The problem being Sharon owns the runner-up, Deebo!

Both are trained by Queensland horseman Jack Butler, who was quick to point out Coney's dilemma.

"Everyone was pretty excited, but Jye is unlikely to be the favourite child at the moment," Butler joked. "To be honest, just after the start I thought all our chances rested with Deebo after he led and Exclusive Hustler got an early check."

With Coney's sister, Jemma, in the cart, Deebo led from the pole, while Exclusive Hustler was settled towards the tail of the field after being inconvenienced from his second row draw.

Exclusive Hustler was then taken three-wide approaching the bell, setting the son of Art Major a huge task.

Proving he was up to the occasion, Exclusive Hustler produced a dour staying performance to reach the front in the last stride, scoring by a head from Deebo.

Lullaby was two-and-a-half metres away third as the winner rated 1:57.2 over 1980 metres.

"That was a massive run," Butler said. "I all but gave up on him after he settled so far back, but he just kept coming.

"I'm happy with both their runs, but Hustler just went terrific."