“It is good for me to do it and keep busy at the moment.”

But it is still in the saddle where the public knows Prebble. He rides without fear and with the best jockeys and now he is the envy of his rivals with the best horse in the land –Incentivise.

He has won the Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup with a relentless gallop that others cannot match.

It makes him the shortest-priced Melbourne Cup favourite since Phar Lap and Prebble is taking it in his stride.

“I was speaking to my son this morning, and he asked if I was nervous? I said don’t be nervous but excited,” Prebble said as his confidence comes through.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime horse for jockey, trainer and owners.

“I’m very privileged to get to ride him and I don’t take it lightly and I’m very humbled.

“I didn’t think I would see a Melbourne Cup favourite this short and definitely didn’t think I would be riding it.”

When he talks of Incentivise, Prebble becomes measured and earnest. It is like he is in the saddle as he speaks with a rhythm.

“This horse gives you confidence,” Prebble starts. “He is just a lovely horse to ride. He doesn’t want to get beaten. A couple of times I have thought he is on the canvas, but there is always more.”

Prebble pauses for a moment like he is thinking “can Incentivise do it on Tuesday?“.

“It gets to a point where the other horse’s run finishes. Their sprint finishes.

“His doesn’t. He maintains it and that’s where he breaks them.

“When they are coming at him, they are at full speed. It comes down to how long they can hold that sprint for and most horses can hold that for about 250 metres.

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“He just holds that sprint for quite a long time more.

“He holds it for a lot longer than all of them, and a lot longer after all of them are gone.

“It is a funny feeling when you are riding him because you are thinking there is not a lot left under the bonnet.

“There is no more acceleration, but speed doesn’t die. That’s what makes him a pretty special horse.”

The racing gear business gives Prebble a life beyond the track and working there is a pleasure for him. It started from the champion hoop wanting to make his own whip. He knew what he liked and he continues to move with the changes in the sport from flapped to padded whips.

“There was only one style of whip you were allowed to use in Australia back then because of the Australian standards,” Prebble says, clicking back into business mode.

“No one else was making the whips to those requirements, so there wasn’t much choice.

“What we did was take bits and pieces out of what I like from whips around the world and incorporate it is one that fits our rules and regulations.

“We had different colours and different styles of handles, and it really took off after that.”

Prebble confirms what other riders know.

“I feel a whip once and I can remember it and I can make it,” he said. “I have a great memory of how the jocks like it. I’m very particular how I want things made, the stitch length.

“We used to hand stitch the flap on the old whip. I learned how to hand stitch.”

Prebble is a craftsman on and off the track and a win on Tuesday would be the crowning achievement as his career on the track goes through something of a renaissance.

There was a time after he returned from Hong Kong, a couple of years ago, when Prebble thought his gear business would have to sustain him and admits he thought a return to the top of the riding ranks was impossible.

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“It was never going to be easy coming back from Hong Kong. I have watched the jocks over the years come back and it’s always tough, no matter how good they were,” he said.

“To be honest I didn’t think I would get back to the level I’m at now.

“That’s racing, things happen. But did I think it would happen? If I said that, I would be talking crap.

“I think I’m riding as well as I ever have this spring. Obviously, success and the confidence that brings out in you helps.”

“I’m in a bit of a groove and when I get into this groove I’m highly successful.”

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