Aptly named Victorian Streetfighter has produced all the toughness that earned him his name to lead all the way for an emotional win in the Newcastle Gold Cup.Trainer Terry Mathrick stayed at home at Cranbourne to watch Thursday's race with his son Gary who is recovering from serious injuries received in a car accident.Mathrick's brother Shawn, who bred and races the horse and is stable foreman, saddled up Streetfighter.Gary Mathrick was badly injured in the accident 14 weeks ago in which he die

Aptly named Victorian Streetfighter has produced all the toughness that earned him his name to lead all the way for an emotional win in the Newcastle Gold Cup.

Trainer Terry Mathrick stayed at home at Cranbourne to watch Thursday's race with his son Gary who is recovering from serious injuries received in a car accident.

Mathrick's brother Shawn, who bred and races the horse and is stable foreman, saddled up Streetfighter.

Gary Mathrick was badly injured in the accident 14 weeks ago in which he died at the scene and was resuscitated before being rushed to hospital.

"He was thrown out the back window of the car, despite having his seat belt on and it was touch and go for a couple of weeks," Shawn Mathrick said.

"Gary is on the mend and although his short term memory is still not good he is far better than we thought he would be.

"Terry wanted to stay back at Cranbourne with Gary so I have been travelling the horse up and back.

"I have been involved with horses and rodeos since I could walk and this is the toughest horse I have ever seen.

"No horse has had more problems than him and at one stage he had to have three operations to remove spurs from his legs."

Kerrin McEvoy took Streetfighter ($9) to the lead and dictated his own terms in front.

The horse fought off challenges down the straight to win by a short half head from the luckless $4.20 second favourite Lodge The Deeds (Scott Seamer) with the $3.60 favourite Enzedex Eagle (Nash Rawiller) a further 1-1/4 lengths away third.

Two weeks ago Lodge The Deeds was beaten a nose when second to Mr Clangtastic in the Wyong Cup.

Streetfighter had won his previous two starts, both over 2400 metres at Randwick but in restricted company.

"He will go the Metropolitan now," Mathrick said.

"I will take the horse home on Sunday and he will go out in his spring paddock and stay there.

"Three days before the Metropolitan I will bring him back to Sydney.

"If he wins the Metropolitan he might be a late nomination for the Melbourne Cup.

"This is the first year I have not nominated him.

"Kerrin does not have a ride in the Metropolitan so if he wants it he can have it.

"He has promised to get back to me in a couple of days."

The Group One Metropolitan (2400m) is at Randwick on October 3.