Colac trainer Daryl Cannon collected a cool $25,000 when he won the 2010 Betfair King of the Bush series on Melbourne Cup day.

Cannon started the day four points adrift of Luke Oliver but got within a point of the Caulfield conditioner when stablemates Lady Rock and Cos In Court completed a Wangaratta quinella in the second of the day’s three legs.

In an enthralling last leg at Echuca, Cannon (36.5 points) finished in front of Luke Oliver (34) when his mare Miss Parma was able to dead-heat for third in a blanket finish ahead of Oliver’s Still Dark.

Cannon praised Betfair’s initiative as unprecedented for racing in regional areas.  “The $25,000 bonus is going to make a real difference,” Cannon said.  “It will be going back into my horse business through obtaining a new training track and the horses will get to travel in a bit more comfort and style with a new float.

“Sending horses to Echuca, Mildura and Wangaratta on Tuesday was a good team effort.  A friend and staff worker took horses to Wangaratta, my father and sister took them to Echuca and one worker took Esprit Citi to Mildura, while I had a runner at Flemington.

“We will let the spring die down and will have a night out at the local pub to celebrate.  There’s no rest at the moment because I have runners at Kyneton and Warrnambool this week.”

“King” Daryl Cannon will be crowned at a presentation at Betfair Dunkeld races on Saturday, November 13.