Jelly Baby, a horse on the up

AAP: It was a case of first time lucky for Nick Hall who rode improving stayer Jelly Baby to a last-stride win in the $75,000 Centrebet Stayers Final at Bendigo.

Hall, having his first ride on the Mike Moroney-trained mare in the 2400m event, let the $3.30 favourite settle back in the 14-horse field from barrier three.

But he had trouble getting a split in the straight before Jelly Baby burst through late to score by a half-neck from A Roddick Moment ($14) who looked as though he had the race won.

High Kingczar ($17) was a neck away third.

"She went really well, she went though the middle and was very brave and strong," Hall said.

"I just had to bide my time until a run came so I made sure I had her on the bit so that when a run came she was able to sprint."

"She's really on the up. They've just got to be careful how many runs they give her this time in so that they have a horse for next preparation."

The four-year-old daughter of Australian Cup winner Istidaad has raced 13 times for three wins with Saturday's victory being her first in a metropolitan-class event.

It was her second successive win over 2400m at Bendigo having won a Showcase 0-72 with Luke Nolen aboard on March 4.