Victorem gave Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham here biggest moment in racing on Saturday when taking out the $500,000 Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick.

The talented three-year-old took out the first heat of this year's series back on February 18 at Graham’s home track and punters didn’t forget that eye-catching victory as Victorem firmed in to be second in the betting at $4.80 behind Don’t Give A Damn ($3.80) when the final jumped.

Ben Looker produced a peach of a ride on the grand stage, moving back to the the rails after finding a run along the outside impossible at the bend for home.

Victorem got a clear run along the inside, flashing home and winning comfortably from Danny Williams’ Don’t Give A Damn while O’ So Hazy ($41), winner of the Wagga heat, got third in a photo.

Dubbo galloper Good Host, trained by Justin Stanley, jumped a $201 chance and finished 12^th, one spot ahead of Wayne Martyn’s Sea Lady, as was the case in the qualifier at Dubbo last month.

Mudgee trainer Gayna Williams enjoyed the best finish of trainers from the central and western regions, Noel’s Gift ($31) came home tenth, while Cosmologist ($41) from the Bathurst stables of Dean Mirfin finished at the back of the field.

But it was all about Graham and the winning trainer, who was extremely emotional after the heat win, managed to keep it together after seeing Victorem score what was a convincing two length victory.

“I had it in my mind that I was going to come and enjoy the day and not be too nervous,” she said.

“In that last little bit I was very nervous. (When Looker couldn’t get a run) I said ‘oh no’, that was my words, but Benny did the fine riding and it all ended well.”

While Graham was composed, North Coast-based Looker was overjoyed.

“This is my Melbourne Cup, obviously being in the bush you don’t find many progressive horses, let alone any as good as Victorem,” he said.

“I’ve just got to thank Jenny and the owners for sticking with me the whole way along.”

“I was trying to force a run that shut on me, I was just lucky that when the gap opened up the inside I just had that explosive turn of foot.”

“I knew when I burst through he was going to be hard to beat, he’s a very good horse.”

There was some drama before the race began as Pumpkin Pie, one of three horses in the final for Goulburn’s Williams, became a late scratching after rearing in the barriers.

That forced Good Host back out of the gates and Stanley’s hope and Sea Lady were among the last to be put in before the race jumped.

As expected, Don’t Give A Damn was near the front the entire journey while Fernieherst ($41) and O’ So Hazy also began well.

Kerrin McEvoy got Don’t Give A Damn got himself right where he wanted in the straight but Victorem was able to find another gear along the rails.

“I was always thinking positive because I’ve always had a big opinion of the horse and for him to do it is great,” Graham said.