Robbie Griffiths dreamt of a long career in the saddle before weight handed him a trainer's licence, while Deane Lester, who was restricted by health issues, cast aside hopes of a golf career to become a behemoth for his expertise.

A shared passion for horses built an enduring friendship.

Two kids from Cranbourne with hundreds of stories borne from countless hours driving together to far-flung tracks or in recent years on the phone as Lester's health deteriorated.

Together with cronies Matt Allen, Ivan Culliver, Nikki Burke, Simon Marshall, Simon Miller and Peter Mertens, they worked, drove, plotted, laughed and enjoyed time together toiling for the ultimate goal of Group 1 success.

"Deane Lester's involvement with me - well as a mate we go back to the mid-80s as young fellas - but certainly from 1992 right through all my career we've been in our lives every day," Griffiths said.

"He was involved with The Quarterback's grandmother from Suraya, she won her first start at Sandown on the 10th of April 1999, he had a bet on her and he had a multi into Go With The Flow who he had a share in, she was $22 and he was $16 so at 400/1 the multi, that actually paid for half of his house.

"He was the first person to buy a share in the Street Boss colt who ended up named The Quarterback."

The Newmarket Handicap was inaugurated in 1874, between the gold rush of the 1850s and the sweeping land boom 40 years later. A time of great growth in Victoria.

From day one, the Flemington 'straight six' has echoed greatness, with hall of famers Malua, Wakeful, Ajax, Heroic, Takeover Target and Black Caviar, while only five horses - Aspen, Gothic, Correct, Razor Sharp and Redkirk Warrior - have won the Newmarket twice.

To win one is difficult, takes planning, guile and daring.

"We could see the Newmarket was not going to be a big race in volume that year," he said.

"Quite often when you have a champion like Chautauqua you don't have big fields because a lot of people run away from running against champions and we knew our horse could run off unbelievable sectionals his whole career, he run big, big splits, you know very fast splits.

"Deane, as we all know, he was outstandingly brave, he always said to anyone he wanted to mentor or be mentored you had to be brave to succeed in anything you did and we were brave in winning the Newmarket, we had a brave plan and that was to follow a champion like Chautauqua.

"Chautauqua, like any horse, can get beaten, but nobody had ever beaten Chautauqua from behind other than The Quarterback."

Despite an early bump leaving the barriers, the race unfolded perfectly for The Quarterback, with Craig Newitt tracking Chautauqua throughout before unleashing a devastating sprint to cast his rivals aside.

"I watched the race with Deane and we thought we're going to win halfway, we really did," Griffith said.

"My wife and I, Shiranee and I and Deane were all together and you don't want to go the 'early crow', that's the last thing you want to do in racing, but we just thought 'Wow we're going to win this'.

"Amazing feeling that Shiranee and I had and Deane share all that.

"Deane and me were like brothers and to share that moment and with a horse that meant so much I can't describe it."