Sitting in third place with 400 metres to go in the two-year-old colts and geldings race, Alchin moved up on the inside before ducking into the sprint lane at the Bathurst Paceway.

That gave Courageous Leo ($13.60) a clean path down the straight.

He pulled ahead of $2 favourite Arctic Stride and while Code Bailey ($5.50) made a strong run wider on the track, Alchin’s colt pulled away from the pack.

It was the first win in three starts for the Courage Under Fire x Estella Rose colt, who had been a 48.9m third in his Gold Crown heat.

“Every start we’ve given him, he’s just got that little bit better. He had a good trip tonight and he was good enough to take advantage of the run,” Alchin said.

“The owners put a lot of money into the sport and for them to get something back is very good.”

Before his race-winning move down the sprint lane, Alchin sat back in the running line after going from barrier nine in the consolation.

It was Call Me Hector who won the start, burning out from barrier five for trainer-driver David Jack and gapping the field by some three lengths.

He then eased back a little and behind him the moves came.

Code Bailey followed along the pegs to sit on the leader’s back, About The Attitude worked forward one out and Flash In Sam was guided three wide.

Down the back straight Arctic Stride set off on an four wide move and with 400m to go, he led by a head.

Call Me Hector kicked and came again and while the two frontrunners did battle, Alchin eyed off the sprint lane.

Once he had a clear run, Courageous Leo surged to the lead and he went on to win by 5¾m over Code Bailey, with Mahala Prince ($9.30) a further 3m back in third.

Courageous Leo rated 1:57.1 for the trip, with splits of 28.9, 29.6, 28.9, and 30.5.

Alchin will now target the Australian Pacing Gold two-year-old colts and geldings series with Courageous Leo.

Meanwhile, Western Districts Harness Racing president Lexy Crosby praised the Bathurst Harness Racing Club for yet another successful staging of the Gold Crown Carnival.

“I think the whole of Australia is excited about the Bathurst carnival. Everyone aspires to have a runner here, everyone who owns a horse or buys a yearling aspires to be here,” he said.

“It is certainly the jewel in the crown for harness racing in the Western Districts of New South Wales and the Western Districts Harness Racing Association are very proud of what they do.”