Zaunkonig ($5.50) was taken to the front of the field by fill-in jockey Ward and finished the race in style, running out a fourth and a half length winner over the rest of the field.

Ward was a fill-in jockey for the $40,000 feature following an injury to the previous race's winning jockey Lee Magorrian.

He was filled in on the race tactics - just get Zaunkonig to the front - and Ward knew he had the race wrapped up on the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained runner a long way from home.

"Pick-up rides rides usually go one way or the other. You usually get suspended on them or you win. Luckily enough today it was a great pick-up ride," he said.

"He travelled beautifully in the run and he had it won a long way from home. On that, he'll definitely go on to bigger country races.

"It was about controlling the race, getting to the 600m, letting him roll forward and having them chase.

"I was pretty comfortable a half mile from home. I thought I had it won, I was travelling that well."

Zaunkonig wasn't away in a flash from barrier five but with some urging along from Ward he found the front as the field went by the winning post for the first time.

Dynamic Dynasty settled in behind the leader while Colonial Reign and Sunday Swindler were next in line.

As expected, Dubbo and Forbes Cup winner and race favourite Steamin' ($3.40) sat towards the rear of the field waiting to make a late move.

Zaunkonig already had a break close to two lengths as the field rolled past the 1,000m.

Ward was happy to let the Freedman's Northern Meteor gelding run free and asked the field to do the chasing.

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Rounding the turn for home Zaunkonig held his margin, with Colonial Reign running along the rail and Colonial Reign continuing to run on down the centre of the track.

Then at the 150m mark the race was put to bed.

Zaunkonig showed a great turn of foot to push the margin out beyond four lengths and leave the rest of the field fighting for second.

Magic Over The Bay ($4.20) finished strongly to take the runner-up spot in a photo over Colonial Reign ($101).

Steamin' finished seven lengths off the winner in seventh.

Zaunkoning is actually the second 2019 Bathurst Cup winner after the event was moved from autumn to spring. Chocolatier won the earlier edition in March.