It couldn’t have gone any better.
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Kody Nestor finished his career as a jockey in the perfect way at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting at Dubbo Turf Club when winning his final race in the saddle.
The biggest cheer of the day came when Nestor saluted with the Gayna Williams-trained Noel’s Gift in the Class 2 Plate (1400m).
“That was good. It’s great to go a winner and much better than going out a loser,” he said with a smile.
“It was good having all the family here and being Melbourne Cup day here back where it all began.”
Nestor, who finishes his career with 427 winners, found the lead with Noel’s Gift ($1.60 favourite) and moved clear of the pack.
There was some nervous moments for the retiring jockey, his large group of family, and all those hoping for a dream result, when Infinite Advantage ($6) began to loom but Noel’s Gift hung on and won by one-and-a-half lengths.
There had been no joy in Nestor’s two previous rides on the day, running third with Sharon Jeffries’ Sun Burn in the meeting’s first race before finishing at the back of the field with Exquisite Halo.
“I thought he (Noel’s Gift) was my best ride for the day and I got a bit worried about the furlong when I saw the other one coming but he did his job and won the race for me,” Nestor said.
“That’s probably the biggest thrill I’ve had for awhile so it was good.”
There was huge all around, mainly from wife Anna and daughter Olivia post-race, while there had also been plenty of messages of good luck and best wishes from others in the racing game throughout the day.
“We’re all one big family and it was good to have all my mates her and the family who have been there through thick and thin with me,” Nestor said.
“It’s a good quiet day and it went the way I’d liked it to.”
The win was the third of Noel Goft’s nine-start career, the Dubbo jockey having previously guided him to victory at Mudgee.
Nestor said he and those close to him would celebrate “with a few beers” after the meeting before getting back up and into trackwork again on Wednesday morning.
A life as a trainer now awaits the man who has ridden winners for the likes of Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse in the past.
Speaking about that prior to his final meeting in the saddle, Nestor admitted there were some nerves.
“It’s a bit stressful because I’ve done one thing my whole life and that’s just ride,” he said. “I left school in year 10 and just rode and rode, it’s all I’ve ever done.”