“Weight is a bit of a struggle nowadays. My metabolism has slowed and after injuries it’s been a frustrating run. But I am happy that when I am given the opportunity, as I have been on Callsign Mav, that I am more than capable.

“That’s all it is nowadays, it’s opportunity. You can’t win races from the jockeys’ room, and it doesn’t matter how good you are riding, you can’t win if the horses aren’t up to it. Slow horses don’t often win races, so you need to be in the right cattle.”

Nolen admits his big race partner is a bit of a mystery.

“I don’t know heaps about him myself. I have only had the one steer on him, but he seems a gentleman. He’s obviously got very good form in NZ so hopefully that form converts here.

“He will race forward and give himself a very good chance of winning, so hopefully he is up to the level of the race.“

If Nolen does pull off an upset don’t expect him to be grabbing microphones or playing to the cameras in the way the more showmanlike Glen Boss has after his Cox Plate wins.

His self-effacing manner might, says Moody, these days work against him. (aged 41) is more like the archetypal old Aussie bushman of legend rather than a social media whizkid and doesn’t court publicity.

“He’s a great rider but when you lose your main backer like that (trainer Moody was suspended for six months in 2016 and then quit training for several years before coming back in 2020) it does make things a lot harder,” said Moody.

“Luke is a laid back, laconic, quietish sort of a bloke. He doesn’t push his own barrow, he doesn’t sell himself like a lot of the leading riders do. That probably leaves him in the wilderness even more so.

“That’s to his detriment in this day and age where they need to be able to get out and sell themselves to get a kick along.

“He and I just clicked easily. We have a great rapport, he’s a very good horseman, he shows a great understanding of the animal. He works with you in that vein if you need to do something different or a different style of rider. He always kept his horses balanced and happy and they run for him.

“We had more than 800 wins together. That would make us probably one of the most successful jockey trainer combinations in world racing I would reckon, and certainly Australian racing.

“Nothing ever seems to bother him at all. It wouldn’t matter if it was a Bairnsdale maiden or a group 1, he takes them all in his stride without bother.“

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