IF her name is anything to go by, No Win No Feed would have been treated to a full belly after her run at Bathurst Gold Crown Paceway on Friday night.
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It is because she produced a dominant front-running performance to take out the Group 1 Gold Bracelet Final (2,260 metres).
With Bathurst native Todd McCarthy in the gig for Cobbitty trainer Craig Cross, No Win No Feed ($12) showed good gate speed to cross the field and take up the lead.
As the bell sounded $2.50 favourite Brooklyns Best moved up and settled on the wheel of No Win No Feed, that pair then pulling away from their rivals through a 28.3 seconds third sectional.
But into the final bend No Win No Feed had kicked three lengths clear of the favourite and there was no catching her as she stormed to victory.
It was the third of her 19 start career.
The A Rocknroll Dance x Designer Rose filly clocked a career best 1:55.5 mile rate to win by 12.5m over Our Ultimate Julie ($61, Jarrod Alchin), with Brooklyns Best a further 3.5m back in third.
"She was was terrific tonight, Craig had her spot on and she showed up at her best," McCarthy said of the runner who placed fifth in last year's Gold Tiara Final.
"To have a card like we do tonight, it's pretty special and the track is certainly on fire."
It was the first time that the three-year-old carnival feature had held Group 1 status and offered a total $100,000 purse, something winning co-owner Andrew Sinclair was thankful for.
"I've never won a Group 1 before, so I have to thank the Bathurst Harness Racing Club, to make this a Group 1 event is absolutely fantastic," he said.
It was McCarthy's second major win at the carnival, having steered Lifeonthebeach to victory in the 2018 Gold Chalice Final.
His drive was yet another example of why he will represent his country at the 2019 World Driving Championship.
"It's going to be a real privilege to represent Australia, go over there to Sweden," he said.
"I was there last year and it was a terrific place, so I'm really looking forward to going back over and hopefully I can fly the flag high for Australia."
