Matthew Eddy stepped up on the big stage to take the honours in his maiden final appearance at the $15,000 Bendigo Bank Maryborough Gift yesterday.Eddy won in 12.25 seconds from a handicap of 7.25 metres at Princes Park.The Narre Warren sprinter finished ahead of David Tinney, who crossed the line in 12.48 seconds off 8.5 metres.A previous Maryborough Gift and Bendigo Thousand winner, Cam Dunbar stopped the clock at 12.56 seconds off 7.75 metres to be third.Eddy won at his third attempt at the Maryborough Gift after holding off his fast-finishing rivals to claim the biggest race win of his career.“I could feel them coming at about the 80 metre mark, I just had to keep concentrating on my own race,” Eddy said.“It’s my highlight, definitely, of my career so far.”The Gift final was Eddy’s fifth race of the day after heats and the final of the open 70m handicap, where he finished runner-up to Isaac Dunmall.The intensely hot weather conditions made the Maryborough Highland Gathering a challenge for all competitors, but Eddy managed his workload to perfection.“I felt good, I wasn’t sure how the heat would take it out of me, but I seemed to hold up alright,” Eddy said.“Warming up and warming down is what takes it out of you,” he said of yesterday’s campaign.Eddy’s coach Kerry McConnon said it was only a matter of time until the 31-year-old sprinter won a big race after his excellent start to the Victorian Athletics League season.Eddy recently won a 200m race in Epping and he finished third in the Gippsland Gift last month.“He’s been knocking on the door since the start of the season,” McConnon said.“He’s been training to win a big Gift and now he’s done it.”Eddy trained six days a week in preparation for the VAL meets run across Victoria.The roof plumber and personal trainer is hoping for a strong showing at the Stawell Gift during Easter and hopes the race handicapper won’t be too hard on him after his success at Maryborough.An action-packed card at the 151st Maryborough Highland Gathering included the highland games and sheaf tossing.Will Binks starred at the caber toss, and Mount Gambier’s Sheridan Holland won the sheaf toss.