After the judge ruled in favour of Steel Prince,Victoria Racing Club racing manager Leigh Jordon admitted"we would have had to find a place for both horses"and the raucous celebrations reached another level as winning connections chaired winning jockey Damien Oliver some of the way back to scale while chanting his name.
Even winning trainer Anthony Freedman – not one to go overboard with post-race celebrations or superlatives – admitted to being caught up in the post-race emotion after watching the stirring two-horse war.
"They are both very good stayers and neither wanted to lose,he just won't lay down and I knew when the other horse came to him he would dig in for the fight,"Freedman said."I said to Damien pre-race,'don't give up on him because he will keep on finding for you',he doesn't like getting beaten."
"He is incredibly tough and genuine,I don't think I have had a horse tougher or more genuine as him. He'll never win a race by much,it doesn't matter where you run him,but getting beaten,he just doesn't like that at all,and I got a thrill watching the race,two good stayers,toughing it right out."
Freedman can now plot a path to the first Tuesday of November without worrying if the former Irish galloper will qualify for the 24-horse field.
"He has earned his chance and he will run well in the Melbourne Cup. I'm fairly confident he can earn a nice cheque,"said of the five-year-old,which has now won five straight since joining the stables from banned trainer Darren Weir in February.