After having to ensure some rapid pace early on, Rue drove the Davis-trained Studleigh Kristen to victory in the Gerard Yeo Memorial (2120m).

Run in honour of the man who lost his life in the 2002 Bali bombings, members of the extended Yeo family were on hand for the presentation after the strong victory.

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Winning the feature event was special but Rue was also extremely pleased to record a win for the Browns Creek-based Davis team

“Back when I was just kicking off Leigh and his father, and his brother really supported me,” Rue said, having gone on to become a leading driver in his own right.

“It’s great to see Leigh’s son, Jake, do the majority of the driving now and he’s doing a great job but it was great to fill in, too.”

While Studleigh Kristen ($8.50) powered home in a real show of determination late, the bulk of the race was far from comfortable for Rue.

After initally planning on racing towards the front, Rue was forced to drop back after Cherry Sweet Peach ($2.40 favourite) set a flying pace up front.

The first two quarters were run in 29.2 seconds and 29.8 seconds, comfortably the fastest start of the night, but as they worked down the back straight on the bell lap the favourite started to fade.

Modern Maestro ($8) took over the running and led the field into the bend for home while Rue and Studleigh Kristen had worked themselves well into the race after moving up along the outside from eighth.

Rue entered the straight as the widest of the runners but Studleigh Kristen had found her rhythm and mowed down the field, nabbing the win by a neck from the Steve Turnbull-trained Modern Maestro.

Kimsarme Direct ($12) finished the race well to run third for hometown trainer Greg Pay.

“We tried to go forward early but it was just too hot for us so we had take hold and get in,” Rue said.

“But we got in a good spot in the end and the horse in front of us dragged us into it all the way to the turn so in the end we had the run of the race.

“She still had to be good enough to win it because at the top of the straight she had two-and-a-half or three lengths to make up … she’s pretty courageous this little mare.”

Rue was particularly pleased with the way the six-year-old mare finished the race.

“She probably felt better on the home turn then she did the whole race,” he said.

“She was struggling for speed for most of the race and Leigh suggested before it that might happen so when they were running those solid sectionals throughout she was pretty uncomfortable, to be honest.

“She was flat out but the more it went on the more she enjoyed it so it was a great win.”

The victory was part of a winning treble for Bathurst-based Rue on the night.

The other two winners came from his own stable. Renee Dale took out the TAB Ladyship Pace (1720m) while The Restauranteur won the Ray Tobin Signs Pace (1720m).