Under-fire hoop Damien Oliver revealed he had to talk trainer Anthony Cummings into running Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar in Saturday's Group One race.
Oliver, who has had to endure a tough few weeks following allegations he bet on a rival horse in 2010, produced a gem of a ride to pilot Fiveandahalfstar to victory in the main event on the first day of the Flemington carnival, and in the process claimed his fourth Victoria Derby.
It might have never eventuated if Cummings had his way, with Oliver needing to be at his persuasive best to ensure the gelding started the $1.5 million race.
"We had a chat on Wednesday morning after working and we came to the conclusion that we should run because he worked well," Oliver said after the race.
"With the favourite (It's A Dundeel) getting beaten (in the AAMI Vase) it was opened up and usually Anthony doesn't need much talking to run in races but I'm glad I did with this one.
"You don't get many cracks at running in a Derby and I thought it was a real worthwhile punt.
"He just outstayed them today."
Cummings said the defeat of It's A Dundeel in the AAMI Vase made him consider starting his horse, but ultimately, Oliver swayed him during the week.
And the Sydney trainer was ecstatic he had done so.
"Ollie didn't have to push that hard but he still had to push because I didn't want him to come here and be an also ran, I wanted to come and be competitive," Cummings said.
"I was looking at It's A Dundeel and I thought that he was going to be pretty tough to beat but seeing him getting beaten last Saturday opened the door.
"He turned up here fit and well on the day and that was always the aim."
Cummings said it had been a long battle just to get Fiveandahalfstar ready for the Derby, with the gelding taking plenty of time to show his full capabilities.
Fiveandahalfstar didn't break his maiden status until his 13th race start and his Derby triumph was his third on the trot for Cummings.
"We struggled to win a maiden with him for a minute which is probably my fault but he has found his groove," Cummings said.
"He has got a fairly bold running style, much like his old man Hotel Grand who was like that.
"We probably never really saw the best of Hotel Grand but he was a really quality racehorse and one of the best I've trained and it's nice to get one of his sons to come here and do the job."