Kiwi jockey Michael Walker rode "the race of his life" in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup but still had to settle for third.
A place in the world's most prestigious two-miler would be enough for many jockeys.
But for one small momentum time on the final straight, Walker thought he'd won the race of his life.
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Instead, it was a case of what might have been.
"I rode the race of my life, I believe, and people are saying good on Kerrin McEvoy for his 3rd Cup, but more people are saying the ride of Michael Walker deserved a better fate," the Kiwi told Newshub.
At the jump, Walker knew ‘A Prince of Arran’ could win it and by the time the ; pack rounded the final bend he saw nothing but daylight.
The party in Vegas was already planned.
"I was just go go go, please," he said.
"I'm thinking Vegas here I come, and then the next thought is 'please nothing come please nothing come.'
But Marmelo and Cross Counter were coming and just like in 2015, he settled for third.
"I was gutted afterwards," he said.
"All year, for some reason, I'd been dreaming that I'd won it this year."
Walker wanted to win it for his family.
For his father, with cancer who has weeks to live and his daughter Layla who turned 10 on Monday.
He desperately wanted to give her a win as the ultimate birthday present.
"I was gutted that I didn’t get it for her birthday, but the first person I rang when I got out was my son and my daughter," he said.
"It brought a tear to my eye, they were saying how proud they are of me."
And he plans to be back on A Prince of Arran for his daughter’s next birthday - Cup day next year.
Newshub.
