But the Moruya-based hobby trainer won’t let up now, targeting the Merimbula Cup with Domidor, a galloper his son picked up for just $2200 from a Sydney tried horse sale.

‘‘We’re looking at taking him back to Bega for the Merimbula Cup, but that is about a month away so we’ve got to look for another run in between,’’ Stephens said.

‘‘We’ll probably be looking at a run in town once he comes back in [after a spell]. When you get up in the benchmarks it’s hard to find runs for him down in the bush.’’

The win of Domidor, a spritely eight-year-old, carried extra significance for Stephens as he is raced by his son Matthew.

The 70-year-old previously trained full time, but ailing health forced him to abandon the caper for almost 10 years.

But a small team headed by Domidor has re-fuelled his passion for the sport.

‘‘I was full time back before and I won the Bega Cup in 1990 with a horse called Canny Garinsky,’’ Stephens said.

‘‘I’ve had a bit of problems with my knees and I had to go back and get them re-operated on.’’

Domidor’s latest win continued a fruitful partnership with 2kg claimer Natasha Winton.

Apprenticed to Canberra’s Keith Dryden, Winton had already piloted Domidor to a win and a third in the Narooma Cup before Sunday’s success.