Only two weeks after winning the Rye Gift for the second time, the 30-year-old won the $3500 Victorian Athletic League event in front of a crowd of about 2500 at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday night.

Under the showgrounds’ new $700,000 lights, Dunbar cruised home in 12.58 seconds to beat Tarneit’s Matthew Hargreaves by 0.06 seconds, with Williams-town’s Sam Jamieson third in 12.69 seconds.

The 31-year-old, who ran off 6.75 metres, said he was relieved to finally win the event after several near-misses.

“I was going up there in pretty good form after winning in Rye,” said Dunbar, who made the Albury Gift semi-finals at Albury Sportsground yesterday.

“It was great to win after four cracks at it.

“I’m pretty much in my best form.”

Wangaratta cycling star Alex Meyland won the other major event, the Wheelrace, clocking 2.08.4 seconds to edge out Sam Crome, with Mark Flood third.

Dunbar entered the Gift as favourite and lived up to the hype.

In an outstanding season, he finished third, running off 6.75 metres, in the $4000 St Alban’s Gift last Saturday and also has top-three finishes in the Peninsula, Traralgon and Maryborough Gifts.

Dunbar has been competing in Wangaratta for almost a decade and finished third in last year’s Gift to his trainer, Todd Ireland.

He said he would like to come back to defend his title.

“It’s a sentimental favourite for me, the Wangaratta Gift,” Dunbar said.

“I have family from Glenrowan and I’ve been going to the Wang Gift for years as a spectator and competing in the junior novice races.

“I’ve been there just about every year for 15-plus years.

“It might not be a Stawell Gift in regards to money but it’s a time-honoured event.”

Wangaratta Sports Club manager Graeme Taylor said that while he was disappointed with the crowd figure the event was a success and would likely be held under lights again next year.

“That will set the format for the future,” Taylor said.

“The lights were great.

“It makes life better for the spectators and the commentators.

“It went off well but we were just a little bit down on the gate.”