Tony Bambry believes the best is yet to come from the well-bred Gold ‘N’ Casino and is confident the heavyweight has the ability to go all the way to the top.

“Potentially I think he’s a cups horse,” the Awapuni trainer said. “He weighs just on 600kg on raceday and he’s got to fill out yet – he’s still raw-boned and got some developing to do.”

Gold ‘N’ Casino claimed the second race of his nine-start career on his home track at the weekend when he beat his three-year-old rivals over 1400 metres in the Coombe Smith Chartered Accountants Handicap.

“I’m excited by him because he’s not a sprinter, he’s a 2000 metre horse,” Bambry said. “That’s why I told Thomas (Russell) to give him a slap at the 600 and to keep going.”

The Encosta de Lago gelding was brave in the straight to hold out the challenge of Micken by a long head with the favourite Ginja Ninja making ground from the back for third.

Out of the dual stakes-winning Danehill mare The Golden Dane, who was also runner-up in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes, Gold ‘N’ Casino was a sales reject and subsequently gifted to Bambry’s daughter Chrissie.

“He failed the scope at the sales and he was basically given away,” he said. “He had a wind operation in Hamilton as an early three-year-old and has come on since then.”

Gold ‘N’ Casino set up a winning double at Awapuni for him with another family connection resulting in Rating 75 sprint winner Dubai Belle joining his team earlier this year.

The daughter of E Dubai was formerly prepared by Francis Finnegan, whose partner Samantha is Bambry’s daughter, and transferred when they left for Australia. “They are both working for Mick Kent now,” Bambry said. “She’s quite a handy type and a very athletic mare.”