Homesman scores emotional Australian Cup win for family of music legend Michael Gudinski

Tears flowed at Flemington when Homesman, owned by late music legend Michael Gudinski, won the Australian Cup.

Matthew Gudinski, son of famed entrepreneur, th elate Michael Gudinski poses with Homesman after the Australian Cup on Saturday. Michael Gudinski died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Melbourne this week aged 68. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Michael Gudinski’s fellow owners have massive shoes to fill in the partying stakes after the late Australian music legend’s horse, Homesman, claimed a thrilling Australian Cup at Flemington.

Gudinski’s son, Matt, had the honour of leading Homesman back to scale as family and close friends and owners, including Nick Williams and Gerry Ryan, held back tears.

The $900,000 first prize meant little. Instead it was the emotion of a final victory in partnership with their great mate, Gudinski, who died suddenly in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"Homesman, with the music man cheering above."

What a great call.

Homesman is your Australian Cup winner 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wQVqcp0Tqb

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 6, 2021

The usually talkative Williams kept post-race comments short and to the point, as the impact of the weeks’ events became apparent.

“There’s only one Michael Gudinski!’” Williams roared.

As Matt Gudinski hugged winning jockey Jye McNeil in the Flemington mounting yard, Williams, standing nearby alongside Jayco boss Ryan, looked up and pointed to the sky.

Gudinski did it tough in the early days building up his Mushroom empire, traits the gutsy Homesman channelled to win the Australian Cup.

Co-trainer Sam Freedman and jockey McNeil both paid tribute to Gudinski’s racing legacy.

“He was very close to the family,” Freedman said.

“Dad (Anthony) had some very fond memories with him back in the nineties and early 2000s.

“He (Homesman) certainly had some help out there.”

McNeil, who shared last year’s Melbourne Cup success with Gudinski, rode with a heavy heart.

“It’s a very special win because we all lost Michael during the week,” McNeil said.

Matthew Gudinski, right, poses with Nick Williams after Homesman’s emotional victory. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

“Condolences to his friends and family and he was definitely riding with me out there today.”

Homesman’s emotion-charged victory was before 12,000 members and racing fans at Flemington, the largest post-COVID crowd on a Victorian racecourse since the corresponding meeting last year.

Spiritual leader Gudinski, who led celebrations for three Melbourne Cup wins in the Williams family silks, unfortunately wasn’t there to lead the charge to the nearest watering hole on Saturday night.

But Williams vowed to do his mate proud.

Australian music legend, the late Michael Gudinski, Picture: Mushroom Creative

“You see all these young people here today, he’s (Gudinski) he’s had some input to that,” Williams told Channel 7.

“He’s a man that’s absolutely changed the culture of our town, of our city, and of our country.

“It’s wonderful to have been able to call him a friend, incredibly sad time, his memory lives on with his kids and wife, who are both great friends of ours.

“We’re celebrating Michael’s life, which was really about five lives put into one.”

Ryan joined in the emotional celebrations, despite also owning the beaten favourite Fifty Stars.

“We still expect him to walk in with that finger in the air, ‘I’m here!’” Ryan told Channel 7.

“He’d light up a room.”