The larrikin trainer could only manage "We f---ing did it, there's a party on here tonight!" in his victory speech when presented with a Queanbeyan Cup he had spent 10 years chasing.

His $2.50 favourite Landlocked, with jockey John Kissick on board, stormed home from back in the field to edge out Matthew Dale's Scene of the Crime ($4.40) in a photo finish in the 2000-metre listed feature on Saturday.

Cleary had tried unsuccessfully for a decade to win his home town race, and had been watching it at the track with his father Frank, who won with Bomber Command in 2009,  since he was in nappies.

The $17,460 prize cheque was nice, but for Cleary the relief at finally achieving his dream was more significant.

Adding to the moment was Cleary sponsored the race which helped him fall in love with the sport as a child for the first time this year.

"I've tried to win it for years now and ran a couple of placings in it. It's just a relief," the 38-year-old said. "I'm a bit speechless, which is rare for me.

"I've been on course for every Queanbeyan Cup since I was born. I came second before with Meet The Stars and had a late scratching with the favourite Joeejonz [in 2007]."

Adding to the tension was Landlocked was previously trained by star Sydney trainer Anthony Cummings before this preparation, and is owned by retail billionaire Gerry Harvey.

"At the end of the day it's a privilege to train horses for Gerry Harvey, there's a lot of pressure," Cleary said.

"It watched it about 100 metres from the winning post and the caller said 'I think the favourite's got there, finally the number came up'.

"I would say it's the biggest moment of my career, I've won some darned good races, but this is just relief.

"He'll have a well deserved spell now, bring him back for the Wagga Cup and enjoy the moment."

Frank Cleary believes the expected increase in prizemoney in country racing next year will help the Queanbeyan Cup recapture its former glory, with only an eight-horse field competing this year.

"It's a race which has lost a bit of its prestige in recent years. If you look in the past it's had jockeys like Damien Oliver, Glen Boss, Shane Dye and Darren Beadman race, and trainers like Lee Freedman and Gai Waterhouse have won it," he said.

"With the job Brendan [Comyn, Queanbeyan Racing Club CEO] is doing at the moment, it'll only be a couple of years and it will be back to where it was, especially with Racing NSW pushing to get country racing back to where it should be.

"In one way it's going to be great for the community and to see those people here, but for us we're going to do it tough with the horses we've got.

"I'm just so proud for Joe today, being born and reared in Queanbeyan, and he's got a good nous for it now.

"I'm quietly confident in years coming he's going to be just as big a force as I was in my heyday."