That promise comes to fruition when Big Duke runs in the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Weir encouraged Warrnambool identities Lee Primmer, Karen Van Kempen, Lester Pickett, Shane Gleeson and Merrivale football coach Jason Rowan to buy a share in Big Duke and they took up the offer under the Leroys No. 2 syndicate.

Primmer said he vividly remembers the chat with Victoria’s leading horse trainer, who also has Humidor and Amelie’s Star in the race that stops a nation from his Warrnambool satellite stable. 

“Weiry offered us shares in two horses,” he said.

“Weiry said this one (Big Duke) will give us the ride of our life and we took up that option and he’s proven right.

“Big Duke has won nearly $1.2 million in stakemoney in the last 12 months. He won the Launceston Cup and ran third in the Sydney Cup earlier this year. Big Duke owes us nothing – we’re just going along for the ride.”

Big Duke is only the second horse that Rowan has been involved in.

“Lester, Shane and I have raced various horses over the last 30 years,” he said.

“We went up to Penshurst for the Boxing Day meeting with a horse called Prince Belmont. It got beat in the maiden and we were disappointed  but it came out four days later and won at Woodford.

“Jason is a newcomer to racing horses. I’m just hoping he’s our lucky charm.”