But while the punters were cheering up in Guyra after King Victor won the 1400m Group 1 Feeds Class 2 Handicap at the Armidale Jockey Club at the long odds of $51, Cook was kicking himself for not wagering a couple of bucks himself.

Although, the Guyra publican and horse trainer was more than content with just winning the race.

King Victor’s win was a surprise to many, but none were more shocked than Cook.

When asked if he expected the five-year-old gelding to take out the event, Cook’s answer was blunt.

“No,” he said.

“He drew the outside fence and I thought he was a bit fat.

“I didn’t have a cent on him.”

Melinda Graham renewed her successful partnership with King Victor on Saturday.

Graham produced a stellar ride for her second win on the horse from just three starts.

Starting from barrier 14, Graham drove King Victor forward and settled fourth, in the one-out, one-back alley.

“I didn’t give her any instructions,” Cook said.

“I just said ‘do what you can do’.”

Graham pulled King Victor to the outside at the top of the home straight and it immediately began to make up ground.

The gelding hit the front 75 metres from home and looked a sure winner until a late surge from Carry Me Gee Gee [$17] saw the two hit the line almost in unison.

After a long wait to examine the photo, judges finally declared King Victor the victor. “I thought it got beat from where I was standing,” Cook said.

“Even after the photo I thought  he lost, but I’ll take it.”

Cook is now preparing the gelding for a Class 2 1400m event in Grafton on December 6.

It was a successful day for the local trainers, with Armidale’s  Warren Gavenlock training Not Wanted [$6.50] to a win in the 1100m Ross Hammond Building Services Benchmark 55 Handicap, the final event of the day.