Under the guidance of regular rider Clare Lindop, Augusta Proud beat the odds, by taking an easy one-and-half length win ahead of second place Commanding Hope and third place Cerberus Gal, during the fifth race at the Adelaide Cup day meeting.

The $100,000 Irwin Stakes win takes her career winnings past the $1.65 million mark.The win was another for leading thoroughbred trainer, and former Port Augusta local, Leon Macdonald and his son-in-law and co-trainer Andrew Gluyas.

It is the eighth win for Augusta Proud in her 22-start career, her fourth stakes win and her biggest win since her $70,000 Dermody Stakes win at Morphettville last July.

It also takes her total lifetime earnings past $1.65 million.

Part owner and Port Augusta resident Gerard McConnal said the four-year-old mare had a strong team of local support from the sidelines, many of them former Port Augusta residents.

“It was a great race,” he said from Monday’s Adelaide Cup.

“It was an excellent run. It was the first time she’s had luck on her side.”

He said while things got close during the 1100 metre race, “it was an easy end at the end.”

He said the team was now looking forward to the 1200 metre $300,000 Group 1 Sportingbet Classic – formerly the Robert Sangster Stakes - at Morphettville on March 20.