It was almost a year ago when Melbourne jockey Luke Nolen was unconscious after a serious fall at Doomben and his future was in grave doubt, but that failed to deter the Cox Plate-winning rider who bounced back to land his fifth group one win aboard Duporth in the BTC
Cup at Doomben on Saturday.
Duporth got up in the last bound to edge out the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bank Robber by a half-head with Apache Cat just a nose away third.
Nolen, who won the 2007 Cox Plate on El Segundo, suffered severe leg and facial injuries when his mount Antidotes fell in last year's BTC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben.
"I had to win this. I've had too many bills to pay," Nolen said.
"I was out for three months following the fall and I had to let my body heal but it took me another three months to find form again.
"I just needed time for my body to heal but I was always going to come back to riding."
Duporth's win repaid the faith Sydney trainer Anthony Cummings had in the 3-year-old who had been out of luck in many major races during his career.
Cummings was surprised when Duporth's number went up in the winner's frame.
"I thought he had run second or third," Cummings said.
"But I thought today was always going to be his day.
"He hasn't had much luck in a number of the bigger races. He's a top quality 3-year-old but he had no luck racing against the best in the country.
"I set my sights on winning the Newmarket in Melbourne with him and if he had got the gap he would have run a clear second."
Cummings will now set sail with Duporth into the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 23, before the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle farm on June 6.
Waterhouse's stable spokesman Denise Martin is looking forward to a rematch with Duporth and Apache Cat in the Doomben 10,000.
"Blake [Shinn] was over the moon with his run. It was his first run for six months and it was only in the last 50m they got him," she said.
Trainer Greg Eurell was not downcast after Apache Cat's defeat.
"There's no shame going down by a short margin in a big race like this," Eurell said.
"The horse is in super order and he'll peak after this run."
- AAP
It was almost a year ago when Melbourne jockey Luke Nolen was unconscious after a serious fall at Doomben and his future was in grave doubt, but that failed to deter the Cox Plate-winning rider who bounced back to land his fifth group one win aboard Duporth in the BTC
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