From The Bush wins 2021 Bathurst Cup for trainer Gayna Williams on home turf

That's what Sunday's Bathurst Cup (1,800 metres) success meant to Gayna Williams, who finally ended the long wait for glory in her home track feature event thanks to her star gelding From The Bush.

A dream trip and a strong sustained sprint saw From The Bush ($4.60, Grant Buckley) charge down the front running pair of Fast Talking ($4.40, Rory Hutchings) and Shadow Girl ($10, Mathew Cahill) inside the last 50m of the event.

It continues what's been a dream 2021 for From The Bush, who has now won a Highway Handicap event plus the Forbes and Bathurst Cups inside the past three months.

Williams said it was immensely satisfying to finally take out the cup after numerous attempts over the past three decades.

"It's taken that long to find suitable and good enough to do it but the ride was brilliant," she said.

"He's a very honest horse and very brave. The one thing I was concerned about was that they would leave him flat footed on a firmer track today, which they did because they left him off the bridle.

"He's just so brave and he keeps finding the line. [The 1,800m] was going to be a test but we were happy that it was on his home track."

Williams will wait to see what to do next with country cups star.

"I was thinking if he didn't do anything today that we might give him a break but it's probably a little bit hard to convince everyone to give a horse that's winning a break. We'll see how he pulls up," she said.

Buckley had to start his run for home on From The Bush around the 400m when Fast Talking and Shadow Girl threatened to break away before the field had straightened for home.

After pulling From The Bush out into space Buckley still had a lot of work to do against the front running pair.

He ate into their lead with each stride and at the 200m he was less than a length away from overtaking them.

Despite the sprint for home not quite playing out to his strengths, From The Bush battled hard to hit the front and claim his sixth career win - and perhaps the most memorable one so far for his elated trainer.

Buckley said with the leaders getting things all their own way he knew it would take a special performance for From The Bush to reel them in.

"Down the side they weren't going that hard but when they put the acid on the other horse I was happy. It probably looked like I was off the bridle but they really quickened the tempo up," he said.

"They got him a bit flat footed but I knew he'd be strong late. I thought they'd go a little quicker than what that did but Rory's a good rider and he knows his tempo. He was rating the race really nicely from where he was.

"I was so glad when Matty put the acid on and that played into my hands."

Buckley was very pleased to help Williams end her long search for Bathurst Cup success.

"She's been a great supporter of me ever since I was an apprentice," he said.

"She's a very good trainer, a very good horsewoman, and it's always a pleasure to ride a winner for her."

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