Kango is the king of Kaikoura

Kango has been the upset winner of this afternoon's Group 3 Alabar Kaikoura Cup.

Paying $11 the five-year-old gelding, trained by Arna Donnelly, had an early jostle with favourite Akuta before driver David Butcher pressed on to take the lead.

Turning for home Kango was clearly the one to catch and despite veering up the track he managed to hold out a fast finishing Pembrook Playboy and Akuta, who had been parked for the majority of the race.

There was an inquiry with third versus first but it was dismissed, with Kango confirmed as the winner. 

Kango's win seals his place in the IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday November 8 and David Butcher will take his place in the great race along with sons Zachary (Old Town Road) and Benjamin (B D Joe).

It will be just the sixth Cup where a father and two sons have been in the Cup and the first time for more than 70 years.