ATOMIC Red is a gelding that relishes hard work and fortunately for star The Lagoon driver Amanda Turnbull, he had one of those tough assignments on Saturday night.
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It came in the Bathurst Mayors Cup (2,260 metres) and typically Atomic Red ($1.33) rose to the challenge to add to his impressive career record.
It was his 17th career win and of those, 15 have come with Amanda Turnbull in the gig for her trainer-father Steve Turnbull.
"He's a wonderful horse, the harder they make it for him the easier he sort of wins," she said.
"He loves it when he just goes as hard as he can, especially when they make him work hard. He gets cranky with them and it's like he goes I've had enough of this."
Having previously driven My Dandy (2013) and Heza Thrill (2015) to victory in the annual feature, Turnbull was a hot chance to make it a treble at the Bathurst Paceway on Saturday with Atomic Red.
The pair delivered and did so in style, Atomic Red's winning mile rate of 1:54.7 just two-tenths outside the track record.
Going from barrier seven, Atomic Red had to work three and four wide to get the lead.
He found another effort as he peeled off a 27.9 seconds third sectional to gap his rivals, then increased his lead after turning for home.
He won by 9.4m over Loorrim Creek ($41), with Mat Rue's Fouroeight ($61) third.
