Winning on Melbourne Cup day is always a thrill and for Tamworth trainer Paul Berrigan it was extra sweet to see his veteran stager bolt home down the outside at Tamworth yesterday.

The 10-year-old bay gelding won the day’s main event, the NAB Business Menchmark 50 Handicap (1400m) and it has earned him a few more starts.

“Dez has been a good campaigner,” Berrigan said.

“He needed to win today.

“If he hadn’t I probably would have out him out in the paddock.

“But he’s a great campaigner and that’s 10 races he’s won now.

“I’ll poke him around here, maybe some non-TAB races, and try to win some money with him.”

Apprentice jockey Tim McIntosh ensured Dezirabeel had every opportunity to win the race.

He went in as the top weight, carrying 60.5kg, but upon returning to scale the hoop told Berrigan the gelding carried it easily.

“He’s a class horse,” Berrigan said.

“But he is 10 years old and he’s carrying all that weight.

“But Tim and I both agreed that he should have won by a couple of lengths today.

“We got pretty good odds on him too so it’s all good.”

And he did win well in the end with a wide run to the line ahead of Nepean Spark, ridden by Jessica Drury.

It was her second runners-up ride of the day but she had already won two as well.

• Turn to page 33 for more on her day in the saddle.