The six-year-old ($5) edged out Black Sail ($2.50F) by .1 of a length with Wodonga trainer Craig Widdison’s Wyangle ($10) just over a length further back.

“We aimed to win this race last year, it didn’t pan out, so it was about coming to redeem himself today (Friday) and, thankfully, he was able to do it,” McGill said.

“It’s definitely up there (with the biggest wins), this is definitely the best country cup that I’ve won.”

Connections not only pocketed the $55,000 for winning the Cup, but also the $20,000 VOBIS Gold and Horse Owners bonus.

Heading into the race, a leading form analyst felt Gold Field’s biggest assets were his tremendous early pace and ability to run strongly mid-section.

At the 400m mark, the Darren Weir trained Romancer ($5) came around the outside, but the Donald Cup winner wasn’t able to maintain the surge, with Gold Fields, the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace trained four-year-old and Wyangle setting up a crackerjack finish.

“Basically it went exactly the way I hoped,” McGill said.

“I wanted him to take the sit on what I thought would be a good tempo and from the half mile, it was up to (jockey) Zac (Spain) to weave his way through and he was able to do that.

“When he hit the front on the corner, it was grit your teeth and hope and he was able to hold off the favourite.”

It was the eighth win of Gold Fields’ career and second successive victory after a 2½ length win at Sandown last week.