What if owners Philip Duffy, who also trains Silent Jack, and Maria Nolan missed out on placing the winning bid on the horse?

What if Silent Jack hadn't drawn a barrier for Saturday's race?

What if Duffy had backed his horse to win?

The most interesting what if is that first one.

Silent Jack was bought as a present for Nolan.

While the couple were out celebrating Nolan's birthday with friends at Carmen's, the birthday girl was also placing bids on Silent Jack through Bloodstock Auctions.

They went on to win the auction with a winning bid of $1900.

However, it almost didn't pan out that way thanks to some technological issues.

"She won the bid. It was quite exciting and I think everyone was a bit stunned," Duffy said of the horse purchase.

"We almost lost the horse because the phone dropped out but we got back online. We were a bit lucky."

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Luck was on Silent Jack's side again on Saturday.

Duffy noted a good ride by Clayton Gallagher and a good barrier (three) were key factors in the seven-year-old's win in the $12,000 Rapid Tamworth Paper Products Benchmark 58 Handicap.

Silent Jack scored by half a length over Brett Cavanough's Chico with the winner paying a massive $101.

The win was a surprise to most on track - including Duffy.

"It was good to get the victory but I was a bit annoyed I didn't back the horse," the part-time trainer said.

"I thought if he'd ran home OK and ran fourth or fifth I'd be stoked because he's actually a stayer. I thought it was a good effort to win first up over 1400 metres."

Duffy's commitment to training Silent Jack played a huge role in the win as well.

Duffy is up at 2am to do his work with Silent Jack before he goes to work in the Sue Grills stables at 4am.

It would be a juggling act for most but Duffy says it isn't too hard to manage.

"I've got enough time to do one horse properly between those hours and I can go back in the afternoon, there's no pressure," Duffy said.

That's why Duffy only ever has one horse in work at a time.

He and Nolan have been buying horses together and racing them since 2016 when they had Put 'em On Ice.

That came after a lifetime in the racing industry.

Duffy started in New Zealand before moving over to Australia in 1996.

He has worked on the Gold Coast and Sydney before he and Nolan settled in Tamworth almost nine years ago.

The couple are now eyeing off a couple different races for their "lovely horse".

"I'll probably space his runs a bit. Got a couple niggly problems," Duffy said of Silent Jack.

"If you look after your horse and space his runs he might win another race.

"There's a couple nice races. We'll either go to Dubbo which will suit him over the mile or a race at Quirindi on Cup day."