However, he and his family and several former school friends were on the receiving end of those celebrations after the Michael Dobie-trained Friendly Venture won the final race, the Cup Day Friday 27 March Class One (1000m).

That was the six-year-old mare's second successive victory after breaking out of maiden company at Tamworth two days before Christmas.

Googe bred the horse out of a mare he paid just $500 for.

"She won three races in Melbourne then was being used to breed polo ponies," he said.

"She ended up with Mack Griffith and we bought her off him.

"She was 15 when we got her and this was one of only three foals, we got from her and the only one to race.

"James Dobie (Michael's son) and I own this horse and we brought the others in with us.

"The mare had a lot of issues early on and kept tying up.

"Michael has been very patient and now we are seeing the benefit of that."

Friendly Venture, the $3.40 favourite and ridden by Greg Ryan, raced in third place to the turn, went to the lead and never left the fence to win.