But those emotions were replaced with tears of sadness when Tears I Cry died overnight.

The galloper stunned the nation with one of the longest of long-shot victories in a major Australian race when he won the $1million group one Emirates Stakes in 2007.

The victory thrust young Winslow trainer Ciaron Maher, young jockey Nikita Beriman and owner Anne McGrath into the spotlight.

Television footage of a shocked McGrath was beamed into loungerooms as the 100-1 shot triumphed at Flemington on the final day of the famous Melbourne Cup carnival.

Her tears of happiness encapsulated the rags to riches story.

“Tears I Cry gave our family one hell of a ride,” McGrath said.

“His passing is devastating to us because we all loved him. He was a pet.

“I fed him in his paddock on Thursday night and he was his usual self-messing around and I went back on Friday and he was dead.”

Tears I Cry will hold a special place in McGrath’s heart.

He played a role in her fight against breast cancer in 2012.

Riding him through the bush around her Orford property was part of her recovery and brightened her outlook during the 12-month treatment process.

Tears I Cry’s career on the track started in June 2006 when veteran Camperdown jockey Neville Nifty Wilson rode him to a third-placing in his maiden start at Hamilton.

Three starts later he won his first race in June 2007 at Warrnambool and five months later he claimed the famous Emirates Stakes victory.

His career extended beyond flat racing.

He was her clerk of the course horse at Warrnambool, including this month’s three-day May Racing Carnival.

McGrath said Tears I Cry would be buried in the front paddock of her property.

He was 15 years old and won $900,000 from 57 race starts.

His record included 10 wins, none more popular than victories in the Koroit and Woodford cups.

Fittingly he was ridden by Beriman in his last race start in 2012 before he was retired, occupying a prime stable at McGrath’s property.