MOQWAO flew late to score an exhilarating win in Saturday's XXXX Gold Jingle Bells Maiden Handicap (1400m) at Gunnedah.
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The four-year-old gelding trained at Dubbo by Justin Stanley, had missed the kick at his previous start and made an even better job of it Saturday. He reared at the start and was a conspicuous last, trailing the field by four lengths around the back straight.
"I thought the race was all over," jockey Kody Nestor told the former jockey turned trainer.
"Just had to ride for luck. But when he got through he flew."
Moqwao did fly and snared a stunning half length win from Rage Against.
It transfixed Stanley.
"Had my heart in my mouth," he admitted.
"Missed the start and made up a lot of ground. Got to the line extremely well. Kody did the right thing."
Stanley has been training for about two years after a bad shoulder and collar bone injury forced his retirement from the saddle. He now has around a dozen in work.