With the insideo f the track being favoured, Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne looked to be home halfway down the straight on Stawell gallopers Our Guarantee in the 1400m maiden plate.

But Ryan Moloney was able to storm home on Tennessee Pulse to claim the lead in the shadows of the finishing line.

Tennessee Pulse ($10) won by a half-neck from Our Guarantee ($11) with $2.80 favourite Guru Jim another 1.75 lengths away third.

Hyland said he had decided on a change of tactics after the three-year-old bay colt had finished 13th of 14 at Ballarat after running last of 13 at Sandown in his only two starts.

"I got desperate," he said.

"We decided to ride him quietly and hope for the best. I ride him in work and he works too well to run last at his first two starts."

Hyland said he was delighted with the form reversal.

Moloney said Tennessee Pulse had always shown a lot of promise but been disappointing on race day.

"He did what we asked of him today. He's got a lot of ability," he said.

Hyland, who was born in Port Fairy and still has family living in the town, said he watched his first Warrnambool carnival in 1955 and first rode in it  during 1959.

"And I didn't do any good", he said with a laugh, "but we kept coming back.”

"We’ve still got family in Port Fairy. This is like home for us. It's just great to be here," he said.