With the meeting carrying city prize money, Lunn’s six-year-old was taking on some good company but went into the race in a rich vein of form and carried that one as he scored by a long-neck from Doukhan ($9.00) with Rezoned ($13.00) a half-length away third.

The win was a true bush victory, with the Dubbo trainer combining with Tamworth-based apprentice Sophie Young at the last minute.

“He was first emergency for the race and I thought he’d get a run but I didn’t know until about 6.10am on Saturday when I got a phone call saying there was a scratching,” Lunn said.

“He’d won something like three of his four runs going into it, and because I ride my own work I knew he was still going well.

“I said to (wife) Jill on the way over that she could collect the trophy and I would go and wash the horse down, I was pretty confident he would go close to winning. I didn’t think he was a $41 chance.

“It was a big thrill to get a win on a day like that, with all the big trainers and big jockeys there.”

Despite being a rising seven-year-old, Leaders Road has never raced better and is a testament to the faith Lunn, a jockey for close to 40 years, placed in him.

Owned by good stable client John Frater, the Beautiful Crown (USA) x No Faking gelding has been a flagship horse for Lunn, who is now in his fourth season as a trainer.

“You need a good horse to give you a kick along, and he has been it for me,” Lunn said.

“His first run this preparation was in the Gilgandra Cup over a mile back in January, and after that he had a couple more over that distance but he really turned it around when I took him to Wagga for an 1800m race.

“He had no luck that day but ran well, then he didn’t get beat far in the Bathurst Cup and since then he’s just found top form.

“He won a race at Coonamble so I took him to Warwick Farm and Winona Costin rode his disgracefully that day, but that happens sometimes.

“After that he won at Wellington by five lengths, was third in the Mornington Handicap Prelude at Tamworth, then he won the Mornington on Tamworth Cup day and carried a big weight and won easily at Gunnedah.

“On Saturday he had 54kg and with the claim he got in with 51kg so I thought he was a genuine lightweight chance. I took some of the $41 the bookies had up as well, which made it even better.”

Lunn will now aim Leaders Road, a winner of 11 races and almost $170,000 in prize money, at a race over 1900m at Canterbury on May 27 and a 2400m event at Rosehill early next month.