Ashleigh was in the saddle for the seven-year-old bay gelding, while trainer Peter watched on as Leap Of Legend finished just ahead of a fast finishing Prettylittlefellow ($4.80).

The Bathurst-trained gelding lead from start to finish, but Prettylittlefellow’s last gasp run saw Cecil Hodgson’s nine-year-old gelding get within just 0.58 metres of the winner. 

Stanley was confident Leap Of Legend had a win in him.

“There was a win in him so I thought, it was just when and where,” the Bathurst-based trainer said. 

“Lo and behold, it was at Warren. 

“He jumped well and lead all the way, which is an improvement in his last two races.”

Stanley was also very impressed with how his daughter went in the saddle.  

“She made a winning break just prior to the turn into the home straight. She kicked him away to lead by a couple of lengths and that’s what won the race,” he said. 

The win was Leap Of Legend’s third ever career victory and a first since Grafton in May, 2017.

Since his last win, the seven-year-old has struggled to start, going through a total of 71 weeks worth of spells, let up for a total of 18 weeks and freshened for a total of five weeks.

Stanley said the horse had to undergo a throat operation, however, the gelding is fighting fit again.

“It’s taken a bit of time to get him right, that horse. He’s a strange horse to race. If you hold him up and try to ride the perfect race, he seems to choke down,” he said.

“Ashleigh let him free flow the other day, which seemed to be the perfect thing.” 

His hopeful that the gelding has another win in him.

Earlier in the meeting, Stanley enjoyed a second place in the Penrite/MCC Hydraulics Class 1 Handicap (1200 metres) with The Long Run.

The four-year-old mare just missed out on the win, with Music Miss proving too good.