Brunton’s share of the bonus was $50,000 and he said he wouldn’t have any trouble spending it.

‘‘I’m getting on a boat on Friday and taking the grandkids for a bit of a trip,’’ the Seven Mile Beach trainer said.

‘‘The rest of the money will go towards paying for the yearlings we bought last week.’’

Up Cups, ridden by David Pires, emulated his Hobart Cup performance when he powered home on a wet track to win the Launceston Cup by a half head from Victorian mare Arianne with another visitor, Schockemohle, almost two lengths away third.

Pires rode another three winners on the day, all trained by Brunton’s son Scott.

Up Cups is raced by Rick and Tina Polley and Brian and Justine Quillam who share the other half of the $100,000 bonus and get the bulk of the $120,000 winner’s cheque.

It was Brunton’s second Launceston Cup win, following on from Prevailing in 2012, and he’s also finished second with White Yard and Banca Mo.

It was the first Launceston Cup for Pires, last season’s premier jockey, whose career has blossomed since teaming up with the Brunton stable.

‘‘I’ve got to give credit to Dave (Pires),’’ Brunton said.

‘‘We fight like cats and dogs – basically because I don’t like jockeys – but his work ethic is terrific and he’s done a great job.

‘‘He deserves every success he gets.’’

As he was after the Hobart Cup, Brunton was left in awe of the improvement shown by Up Cups – from a horse considered to have only modest ability and a poor temperament to Tasmania’s best stayer.

‘‘I didn’t realise what a good trainer I was,’’ Brunton joked.

‘‘Six weeks ago I never expected anything like this but the horse has just kept lifting his game. But it’s been a team effort.

‘‘He was once a horse that we couldn’t train off the property because he’d want to bolt and come back dripping with sweat.

‘‘Then one day Scott suggested we just train him out the back – work him off a pony and do a bit of  trotting and cantering. And he’s been a different horse ever since.