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A trio of wins capped by a runaway victory by WIlli WIlli in the $180,000 Albury Gold Cup took talented young trainer Craig Widdison to new heights at Albury on Friday.

The Albury Cup win was the most important result for Widdison since he returned to the border region to trainer at Wodonga last year.

Widdison prepared two Group 2 winners before returning to his home region with a small team of horses before his stable numbers swelled with horses transferred from leading Wodonga trainer Brian Cox after he copped a long ban from racing.

Craig Widdison makes it a feature double at Albury, taking out the Gold Cup with a standout performance from Willi Willi. This gelding finds success in his first trip to NSW! pic.twitter.com/cvvQdF3WDX

— Sky Racing March 23, 2018

Willi Willi is raced by long-time Cox clients John and Helen McPhee, a coupke who have been leading owners in the region for more than 25 years.

They raced Ekalaka, who was trained by Cox to win two previous Albury Cups in 2000 and 2002.

Widdison said the Albury Gold Cup had always been Willi Willi’s aim this preparation even though the gelding had never previously raced in the right-handed direction in NSW.

However he revealed that he brought Willi Willi across the Murray River from Wodonga for two lead –up gallops on the Albury track.

Willi Willi was set for the Albury Cup after he won at Flemington three starts ago over 1800m.

“We always had this race in mind,” he said.

“It’s just awesome and a really special moment. You’ve got to appreciate these days because they don’t happen too often.”

Willi Willi completed a Cup Day treble for Widdison after his earlier wins with Zephora and Cash Crisis.

The Gold Cup was Willi Willi’s grand final this preparation with no plans to press onto the Wagga Gold Cup in early May.

“He has got a big future and is only lightly raced. I don’t really want to push on with him at this stage.” Widdison said.

What a day for Craig Widdison!

Three winners here at Albury today, including both of the feature races. Hear from Craig as he shares nothing but praise for his team and jockey Nikita Beriman following her big ride on Willi Willi. pic.twitter.com/SiVhoeIbjo

— Sky Racing March 23, 2018

Willi Willi ran away to 3.5 lengths win over the gallant topweight Supply And Demand, who had 62kg and was conceding 8kg to the winner.

The fancied pair Wheal Leisure and Sin To Win finished third and fourth with Widdison’s other Cup runner Mr Fergus a fine fifth.

Jockey Nikita Beriman was having her first ride in Albury Cup aboard Willi Willi and also had a memorable day riding another two winners including Cash Crisis in the $50,000 Albury City Handicap for Widdison and the Lindsay Park-trained Young Hostess in the Adrian Ledger Memorial.

Widdison described Berriman as a “star” but acknowledged the contribution of Willi Willi’s regular trackworker rider Nick Souquet, who was unable to ride the gelding at 54kg.