Davis drove Studleigh Sonny ($5.90) to a maiden win in the Town And Country Rural Supplies Three Year Old Pace (1,730 metres) when he ran down race favourite Ginger Leigh ($3.90) in the closing strides.

Studleigh Sonny built off his recent narrow runner-up result at Dubbo, behind Peter Bullcok’s Kyle Shannon, to go one spot better in a mile rate of 1:56.6.

Davis’ runner almost broke stride early on but kept pace and cut inside to take the sit behind Mat Rue on gate one starter Whereyagoinbabe.

When Rue’s stablemate Ginger Leigh, driven by Tom Pay, came across to take the lead Davis was happy to bide his time in the three back position on the pegs.

“I saw Matty was kicking up and the was room to get behind him and I thought that was a good spot for him,” Davis said regarding the green light battle.

“I ended up three pegged. I tried to get off there, and I couldn’t, but I got a bit of luck in the race and finished off well.

“He had a great run at Dubbo. He’s a tough horse that just keeps on coming and he got there in the end today.”

At the bell Ginger Leigh had led the field around with an opening quarter of 28.7.

Cuzin Pat held the death seat with Chris Be Quick sitting in the one-one before Whata Reactor was raced to the front of the outside line by Bernie Hewitt.

Heading into the turn for home Ginger Leigh and Whata Reactor formed a small break ahead of a tiring Whereyagoinbabe.

Luckily for Davis and Studleigh Sonny there was also trouble in the outside line for a fading Cuzin Pat.

The gap that opened up allowed Studleigh Sonny the space he required to get outside and challenge the leading pair.

Studleigh Sonny drew level with Whata Reactor as they straightened for home and Davis’ gelding began his pursuit of the leader.

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As Whata Reactor failed to keep up it became a race of two, with no-one else in the vicinity of the leading pair inside the final 100m.

Studleigh Sonny had timed the run to perfection as the Leigh Davis-trained gelding crossed ahead of Pay’s filly to win by 1.7m.

Hewitt had opted to cut the throttle over the last 50m as he allowed Whata Reactor ($9.10) to cruise home for third.

Whata Reactor was over 13m away from Ginger Leigh while fourth place finisher Sports Agent ($65.30) was almost a further 10m behind.

In his five previous starts Studleigh Sonny’s runner-up finish at Dubbo was his only appearance inside the top three of a race.

The Oberon Cup meeting (January 18) is the next Bathurst Paceway event.