Nicholas Hall will join a mate when hops on favourite Fawkner as they attempt to give his godfather Lloyd Williams a first Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Hall voices his affinity for the Reset seven-year-old, who he won the Caulfield Cup on last year, as if he's talking about an old friend rather than a champion racehorse.
"When I get on him all the pre-race tension and nervous energy dissipates. I just feel calm and confident in what he is going to do," Hall said.
"I have got a good relationship with this horse. I know that would be hard for the public to understand, but we are just good mates.
"When you have an association with a horse over such a long period of time you just get close to them. He has a beautiful manner about him and is just great to be around."
Hall was the pilot for Fawkner's win on debut in a Ballarat maiden on April 21, 2011. It is an alliance that built over four years before reaching its peak in the Caulfield Cup. Hall gave a huge punch of the air that day in a show of joy.
"It was about being a part of the whole team at Lloyd's and all the work that went into getting that win on that day," Hall said. "It is special because I had done a lot of the early work on him and to be there to win a major on him was incredible.
"There aren't too many horses you have like Fawkner. Usually you get on them and get over them but I have got really close to him.
"I was lucky to have Zipping, which gave me my first group 1 and some great moments, but to win a major on Fawkner and maybe another one [on Saturday] is very special."
Fawkner could join an elite band of 10 horses to win both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup; this group includes some of the greats of the turf such as Northerly, Might And Power, Tobin Bronze, Rising Fast and Tranquil Star.
Hall has talked to his godfather about winning the Cox Plate and is well aware it is the race that WIlliams covets to complete the set of the spring three major trophies. Williams has won four Melbourne Cups, with Just A Dash, What Nuisance, Efficient and Green Moon, and the Caulfield Cup with Fawkner.
"All the things money can buy it can't buy him a Cox Plate and it is something he really wants," Hall said. "It would be great to give it to him because has taught me so much in my career and about being professional."
Fawkner has been near the top of betting since betting opened on the Cox Plate.
He became favourite when he just failed to run down Dissident in the Makybe Diva Stakes last month and then confirmed his place atop the market by winning the Caulfield Stakes
"He has had the perfect prep for a race like this," Hall said. "I was rapt when we got the draw [of gate four] and I think the way the race will be run will really suit him.
"They are going to go hard, which suits him because he can sprint off any tempo, and from the draw we should be in the right place at the right time."
Fawkner has drifted from $4.20 to $4.40 at TAB.com.au. The money has been solid for Criterion since Tuesday's barrier draw; it is the $6.50 second favourite.
"They are the two with us. Criterion has been $9 to $6.50 just with solid bets. They have just kept chipping away," TAB's Glenn Munsie said.
"Fawkner is still the one we have taken the most money for, but we think it is around its right price and he is still a winner. Criterion has been well supported and is a loser for us.
"Overall the worst way is The Cleaner but that's because we bet 200-1 early doors, but he still getting backed at $11. It seems a story that everyone has bought in on."
The Cleaner clearly has the support of the public and was pressing Fawkner for favouritism in the early tote betting on Friday night.
