Gloop's trainer says he has ugly legs but the youngster knows how to use them properly after winning at Moonee Valley.

Gloop's imperfect legs kept his value down to $1000 when he went through a yearling sale before Warrnambool trainer Patrick Ryan bought him out of paddock for $2000.

Ryan sent Gloop to his cousin, Cranbourne trainer Chris Hyland in an exchange of horses with the latter getting the better end of the deal.

"His legs don't look fantastic but he doesn't have any issues and he's a good, positive little horse," Hyland said.

"They're just a bit ugly-looking and they're not totally correct and they don't quite face the right way."

Gloop ran a solid third on debut at Bendigo before a rails-hugging ride from jockey Daniel Stackhouse got him home in the Aquanas Foods Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.

Stackhouse capitalised on barrier one to drive Gloop ($10) along the inside rail to beat Turfane ($6.50) by a head while All Day Baby ($7.50) was half length away third.

Hyland credited Stackhouse's decision to ride for luck on the inside as the major factor in Gloop, named after movie character Augustus Gloop, getting home narrowly.

"He (Stackhouse) gave it a great ride because he was looking at going around them but if he not have stayed on the fence, then he would not have won," Hyland said.

Hyland said he could not remember having a city two-year-old winner while the juvenile was one of his first runners since a virus swept through his Cranbourne stable recently.

The trainer said he would not get carried away by Gloop's Moonee Valley success with races of a similar level in his plans for the Econsul gelding.