The Norm Gardner trained gelding was almost two full lengths behind the main pack on the back straight, but roared back into contention before overhauling second-placed Green Sweet to win the race by a nose.

Moruya Cup winner Animalia finished in a dead-heat for third place with Nagging a further nose back.

Animalia was the pre-race favourite, and aimed to be the first winner of the Moruya-Narooma double since Fair Nation in 2013.

He started strong, and was among the leaders coming into the back straight, but faded towards the end to narrowly miss the double.

Moruya Jockey Club manager Brian Cowden said Le Cavalier had the perfect conditions for his win.

“That horse is renowned for running his best races when there’s speed in front of him,” he said. “He was lucky enough that the race was run to his liking, and he put his best foot forward and knocked off the other horses in the last couple of strides.”

Cowden said the race proved just how hard it was for a horse to complete the summer-cup double.

“They’re big races up against other good horses, and everything has to go right for you to win one race, let alone two,” he said. “Having wont he first one, Animalia got a weight penalty which made the second one harder.”

Moruya-based trainer Natalie Jarvis got the day off to a flyer with wins in race one and race three.

Living Doll won the Ezywear Narooma Benchmark 58 Handicap by half a length to kick off the racing, before Sarzana won the Narooma Pharmacy Maiden Handicap by a nose about an hour later.

“It was Natalie’s birthday on Monday, and she started brilliantly,” Mr Cowden said. “She’s had a really successful summer carnival, and she now has seven wins for the season.”

The Moruya Jockey Club now has a two-month break before their next race meet in April, giving them time to do some work on the track.

“We’re doing a major top dressing and renovation around the turn into the home straight,” Mr Cowden said. “The wear and tear there needs some work, and it’s good growing season at the moment.

“The track will still be busy though with horses training six days a week. From a racing point of view it might look quiet, but the track will still get a lot of work.”