That champion is of course bush legend Fab's Cowboy.

He is a 49-time career winner as he aims to soon raise the bat for a half century.

Bevan Johnson (trainer), Mel Johnson (stable hand and Bevan's wife) and Dakota Graham (jockey) have been along for the entire ride with 'Cowboy'.

Cowboy has been part of the family and stable since he made his race debut back in late 2015.

Between the three of them, and the rest of the Johnson clan and barn, they treat their dear old gelding like he is one of the family at their Barcaldine stable.

They all love him deeply and treat him as such.

Apprentice jockey Tyler Leslight joined the Johnson stable as Bevan's apprentice in the early stages of last year.

While Bevan – or Bill as everyone calls him – is a man of few words, Leslight can speak for his boss about how much Cowboy means to the team.

"Bill loves that horse nearly as much as his children and that is dead set true," Leslight said.

The now 12-year-old Fab's Cowboy provided Leslight with his maiden race win at Gladstone in April of last year.

They have since combined to win two more races.

An endearing moment a few days after that most recent of the victories – which came at Blackall in October of 2022 – underlines the connection Bill and old Cowboy have.

The veteran galloper was a little under the weather after that Blackall triumph and got sick.

Fearing old Cowboy may be on his last legs, Bill ensured that he would make it back to the track.

"Bill slept in that horses' stable for two nights," Leslight said.

"That is the dead set truth, Mel found him down there on the ground with the horse.

"Him and that horse have an unreal bond that I have never seen before.

"He is probably one of the more intelligent horses I have been around as well, he is smarter than most of us, and people underrate just how smart he is."

The Johnson stable have two young, fit and keen track work riders in Leslight and Graham.

However, they rarely get a morning gallop on the experienced Cowboy.

That is saved for the boss, Bill, such is his relationship with his favourite horse.