Up-and-coming stayer Bee Tee Junior, toughed it out taking out the $20,000 Wealleans 2100 at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Jumping from barrier three, the country's leading rider Lisa Allpress settled the four-year-old midfield off the rail. Just before turning for home, the pair were slightly hampered. They were again squeezed for room with 200m to run but ground out to win narrowly to Bugle Call (M.Cameron) with only half a head separating the pair. Ekarosa (D.Prastiyou) finished third three-quarters of a length back. The winning time was 2min 16.39.

Bee Tee Junior capped off a memorable day for trainer Shaune Ritchie and part-owner John Heale. Well known race owner Heale, also part-owned Leeds, a winner earlier in the day.

Ritchie recorded a treble of winners with only four runners (he had two runners in the last - Twilight Offer) on the day.

Ritchie is looking at some late spring riches with the four-year-old son of Nom du Jeu.

"He is a very tough horse. I can see him being a Cups horse. We'll have to space his races, as he's a type that can't carry much weight like he did today," Ritchie said.

Bee Tee Junior has now won three and two placings from 13 starts and earned just short of $30,000.

Bee Tee Junior is by Group One AJC Derby winner Nom du Jeu, who has recently joined the Jindera Park stallion roster.