Zevada provided the popular Noonan family with an emotional victory with his win in the $80,000 David Kiernan & James Miller Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.

The nine-year-old secured Tony his first Saturday city winner of 2014 when he out-toughed his rivals in the 1700-metre event that rounded out the program.

Mornington-based Noonan choked back tears as he spoke of how special it was to get the son of Don Eduardo back into the winner’s stall after recovering from a second tendon injury.

“He’s had two tendons and, realistically, he’s probably one of the better horses I’ve trained but we’ve never had an opportunity to see it,” Noonan, who has trained quality sprinters Piavonic and Ortensia, said.

“We haven’t got too many like him, so it’s good to have him back. His effort was enormous.”

Zevada, who settled in the second half of the field, charged to the front halfway down the long Flemington straight after making a wide run, but was under siege from Prizum and the well-backed favourite Amovatio at the 100m.

The $10 chance fought courageously to get home by a head from the John Sadler-trained, Tom Sadler-ridden Prizum ($7.50) with $2.90 favourite Amovatio a long neck back third.

Noonan was thrilled to ride a winner in town for his dad, but also paid tribute to close friend and apprentice jockey Jack Martin, who is recovering from a lucky escape after a car accident on the way home from Seymour races last Sunday.

“It’s a good emotional victory for my dad,” Jake said. “It’s good that we’ve got something that can measure up in town.

“Seeing a good mate in an accident it was pretty frightening. He gave us a good scare.

“But it’s good to see Jack head home yesterday, he’s on the way up, and hopefully we’ll see the kid riding winners out here in the near future.”

The Noonans denied the Sadlers victory in the last, but that father/son duo also made a trip to the winner’s stall when Reckless Assassin claimed the Trevor Day & William Nield Handicap (2000m).

Full results of all races on the Flemington card are available via the link