Jye McNeil’s setback at Mornington proved to be a fortunate twist for Jamie Mott, who stepped in to guide Bancory Bay to a well-earned victory at Sandown on Wednesday.

In a dramatic finish to the Evergreen Handicap (1500m), Mott had to battle past She Nailed It before withstanding a last-minute charge from Rapid Cheval to claim the win.

McNeil, a Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, was ruled out of his Sandown rides after a horse flipped over on him during the Mornington jump-outs. He underwent medical scans for a possible leg injury but is optimistic about returning for Saturday’s Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, where he is set to ride Place Du Carrousel.

Trained by Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson, Bancory Bay secured his second career victory in nine starts. Thompson hopes the gutsy win will give the gelding the confidence to improve further.

Bancory Bay closely followed She Nailed It before surging forward in the home stretch, with the remaining contenders trailing significantly.

After a tense battle, Bancory Bay ($6.50) crossed the line just a short half-head in front of Rapid Cheval ($2.80), while She Nailed It ($51) finished a close third.

“Speaking to Jamie before the race, it worked out the way he thought,” Thompson said.

“We planned to be positive from the gate, and we expected that horse to lead. Jamie rated him well, and we were just waiting for the line to come up at the end.

“Jamie’s a strong rider and got the most out of him.

“We’ve always believed in this horse, and it’s great to see him starting to perform to that potential. Hopefully, this gives him a confidence boost.”