Regular hoop Ken Dunbar produced a flawless ride on the $2.50 favourite, which was backed heavily leading in, shooting to the lead early, stealing a nice break down the back, stacking them up approaching the turn and then kicking off the bend to win by more than a length.

In doing so, the duo held off reigning Gold Cup champion Letter To Juliette ($3.40).

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Garry White's mare, which boasts more than $200,000 in prizemoney, was off a freshen-up though and was carrying a heavy load considering her benchmark, she'll no doubt strip fitter if she returns to defend her crown as expected on Friday, April 12.

Almost two lengths further back in third was Garry Lunn's Bemboka which, as a $9 chance, was ridden closer to the speed than usual and battled on bravely in the straight to fill out the minor placings.

The victory was Cowboys Karma's seventh from 33 career starts and came after a third placing at Mudgee, Dunbar saying a big drop in weight from that run three weeks prior made a difference despite moving up in class.

"He had [61kg at Mudgee] and did it a bit tough, the drop in seven or eight kilos (helped)," Dunbar told Sky Racing Thoroughbred Central, the Dubbo-trained gelding carried 54.5 in the main event of Racing Orange's Legends Day on Sunday.

Gibson's gelding is as honest as they come and considering he's a known leader that has great early speed and regularly puts himself in the firing line, Dunbar said the 1600 trip suits Cowboys Karma but would still expect him to return for the 2100-metre main event.

"The way he races and the way he gets to the line really benefits him over the mile (but) I'd think [he would return], give him an easy couple of weeks and then see where's at but if he can do that again [he's a real chance]," Dunbar said.

White didn't come away from Sunday's meeting empty-handed though, the four-time Gold Cup-winning Hawkesbury trained picked up a winner's cheque with Brown Thomas ($3.70) in the Kennards Benchmark 58 Handicap (1280 metres).

That win came after Brad Widdup and Koby Jennings combined to pick up back-to-back victories in the afternoon's second and third races, the trainer-jockey pairing winning with Purton ($2 favourite) and then Lagarde ($1.35 favourite).

The latter's win was one many will consider overdue considering the filly had shown plenty of promise in her short career, before saluting for the first time on Sunday in 11 runs she'd run six second placings and a trio of third finishes as well.

She never looked troubled either, she stormed to victory by almost three lengths from Dean Mirfin and Alison Smith's respective outsiders Skipper Joe ($41) and Krissy Krystyna ($61).

"Her form on paper suggested she could do something like that but she still had to get the job done, she's been a bridesmaid so often there's still that thought in the back of your head," Jennings told Sky Racing Thoroughbred Central.

"But she pulled it all together and did what she should've done.

"She just jumped and ook me, all I did was really sit on her and help her stay balanced then let her go up the straight.

"It should do her a world of good, (a win) will do most horses good but if they can win like they should be able to go on."