It’s a long way between Tasmania and the West Australian outback but Viscount Cameron bridged the gap when he won the BHP Billiton Newman Cup on Monday.

Viscount Cameron (8g Aliocha – Countess Mary by Starclosure) began his career with trainer Helen Patterson at her Bracknell stables outside Launceston.  He won four races at Mowbray and Longford before being transferred to WA last year.

Viscount Cameron is now prepared by Angela Smith who won the 1997 G2 Perth Cup with Time Frame.  The widely-travelled veteran of 59 starts won the Mt Barker Cup in March and warmed up for Monday’s event with a last-start placing in the Broome Cup won by Nullagine.

He is from the last crop of Armidale Stud stallion Aliocha who died in June 2001.  A son of the Mr Prospector sire Miswaki, he sired 174 winners at a 67% strike-rate from 8 seasons at stud.

Among his 20 Tasmanian stakes winners have been St Andrews, Windigo, Chardere, Fine Omens and Viscount Alexander.  The last named is an older brother to the Mt Newman Cup winner and he was also trained by Patterson to win the Listed TTC Newmarket Handicap in 2002.

Viscount Cameron was one of five winners for jockey Shaun Meeres on the seven-event Newman Cup day card.  He combined with the Smith stable to win the Cup and support races on Condor Express (Right Wing), Bundy Blue (Bletchley Park) and Port Regis (Kenvain).

Meeres was also successful on Vodka Lime (Carry A Smile) for Bunbury based owner-trainer Ray Malpass.