Areyouok ($2.00) its sneaked his neck past the finishing post just in front of the fast-finishing favourite Watch My Toosh to take out the Maiden Plate at the Queanbeyan Racing Club on Boxing Day.

In a field of only four runners for the first of the five-race card, Areyouok sat behind Res Ipsa before making his move at the 600m mark.

Areyouok held the lead the rest of the way despite Watch My Toosh flying home down the straight, with Res Ipsa another six lengths back in third.

It was the first victory for Areyouok in his ninth start, spanning more than 12 months. He has been on the verge after finishing second and third in its previous two appearances.

Foreman George Vella - who was looking after Areyouok with his brother Gratz in Sydney for the Christmas break - said it was an impressive performance stepping up to the 2000m distance.

"I didn't think we were going to get there, but he just held on," Vella said.

"His plan was to sit back off them a bit, but the pace was a bit slow so he was up there running second.

"That was his first time over 2000m, he's been running over 1400m and 1600m. He's bred to stay, so we wanted to see if he could do it over the 2000m.

"We'll keep him running in Canberra to see if he can win another one."

Vella has been involved in racing for the past 45 years, starting off as a jockey. He still rides trackwork.

The annual Boxing Day meeting doubled as a farewell for Queanbeyan product and former Canberra Raiders captain Terry Campese, who is joining Hull KR in the Super League.

The next meeting at Queanbeyan will be on January 10.