On Friday afternoon, Dunedoo’s Hugh Bowman would have been one of Dubbo businessman Lloyd Walker’s favourite people.
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The world-renowned jockey guided Brave Smash to victory in the Manikato Stakes – snagging Walker a share of the $1 million prize pool – on day one of the Cox Plate Carnival in a thrilling finish from Irish raider Spirit of Valour.
But on Saturday Bowman spoiled Walker’s party as he guided champion mare Winx to an historic fourth Cox Plate ahead of Walker’s hope, the Damien Weir-trained Humidor, in third.
Winx’s trainer Chris Waller watched the race from the same spot he has for Winx's three previous wins in Australasia's weight-for-age championship, in the weighing area on a TV screen.
"I'm a bit different. I just like to watch it on my own," Waller said.
"A lot of emotions go through you."
The race panned out almost as perfectly as Waller could have hoped, apart from Winx being a little wide early before tucking in to a good spot.
With a fourth Cox Plate in the mare's keeping as she raced clear in the straight, Waller got to relax a little and savour the closing stages.
Waller then made his way out to the front of the grandstands and admitted the crowd reaction to champion Winx's victory was something he will carry with him forever.
"That's why I'm emotional. It's pretty surreal," he said.
"We've just treated it like another race. But obviously it was a bit bigger.
"It's such a special place to be."
Winx became the only four time winner of the Cox Plate and stretched her winning sequence to 29 races, 22 at Group One level.
"She's the greatest that I'll ever have anything to do with," Waller said.
Bowman’s winning ride on Brave Smash proved the perfect warm-up.
Weir had also kept an ace up his sleeve, waiting until Friday night before applying blinkers to Brave Smash's race gear.
"He was set for The Everest but found a wet track which we hoped he'd handle," Bowman said.
"I said don't put them on the Everest. I didn't think he needed them. But he was primed for this evening.
"He always runs well here at Moonee Valley and I think the blinkers added have certainly helped."
Brave Smash ended up finishing eighth in The Everest behind two-time winner Redzel.
"The plan was to put the blinkers on in the Everest but Hughie said he probably didn't need them, but he needed them tonight to get in the right spot," Weir said.
"He got a great ride. He pinged the gates and got into a really nice spot.
"We thought we had him right going to Sydney but in the end it was the track.
"You get it wrong a lot but we got it right tonight."