Tradition, though, cannot be purchased and the Cox Plate has it in spades. Great races are a matter of taste, two-year-olds nah, sprints to a degree but I’m more inclined to 1600 metres than 1200m.

The Cox Plate has long been a personal favourite: Moonee Valley due to the circumstances of the circuit makes it a more up close and personal affair with the turns, twists and tempo producing greatness. The best? Winx taking her fourth (2018) in what has been a remarkable history encompassing champions.

“Kingston Town can’t win” for instance and the Makybe Diva spectacle make it difficult to find the second-best. The awe of Winx went beyond marketing and a soundtrack.

Subsequent chapters fell flat. Lys Gracieux (2019), from Japan, was very good and Sir Dragonet (2020), an import with Aussie influences in trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, hardly generated a ditty.

Consider the Bonecrusher-Our Waverley Star battle royale in 1986. No doubt Stan’ Up And Fight from Carmen characterised the clash.

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And the very memorable Might And Power (1998). Owner Nick Moraitis showed a turn of foot long gone since his days as a referee in the South Sydney juniors as he cantered down the straight in the victory celebration. It could have enhanced with a blast of Zorba The Greek.

Apart from Hallelujah what could be heard on Saturday? If the Brit-bred Zaaki scores Green, Green Grass Of Home? The Tom Jones rendition, of course.

Perhaps an Irish win with State Of Rest would be harder to place. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is a tad drab, Galway Bay is about as lifting as Botany Bay and I’m left with Mustang Sally. Cynics may say it isn’t Irish but The Commitments, who did it so well, were.

But that’s about winners. Horse players soured and emitted backing seconds, just like Rocky Balboa after an Apollo Creed demolition, should tune into Going The Distance from Rocky. It will get you off the canvas and in the mood of “hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you.”

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