Former international jockey Brent Thomson doesn't mind admitting to being a passenger when Dulcify gave him his fourth Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Dulcify's 1979 triumph will long be remembered as one of the great Cox Plates following a freakish performance from the Colin Hayes-trained champion.

Thomson won the Cox Plate four times in five years on Fury's Order (1975), Family Of Man (1977), So Called (1978) and Dulcify.

When asked which was his most memorable win, Thomson paused briefly before saying: "Dulcify in the manner in which he won it.

"He kicked clear and won by seven lengths and the way he put it all together made him one of the great Cox Plate winners.

"It was unique in the way he took up the lead at the 3f.

"I had no hesitation doing that on the relatively small circuit.

"He was quite amazing. He just took off and I was a passenger."

Thomson conceded he had thought for a fleeting moment that he had gone to the front too soon.

"I hit the front sooner than I wanted but he had such extraordinary acceleration he put three lengths on them and won by seven," he said.

"I didn't have to hit him with the stick it was that easy."

Dulcify deserved his place in history by winning the country's weight-for-age championship.

After the Cox Plate, Dulcify won the Mackinnon Stakes and four days later went into the Melbourne Cup as favourite.

However, tragedy struck in the Cup when Dulcify was galloped on from behind by eventual winner Hyperno and suffered a shattered pelvis.

He galloped on into the straight before being pulled up by Thomson.

As Hyperno returned to applause Hayes comforted his great performer who could not be saved.

From 21 starts he won 10 races but Thomson believes the Melbourne Cup could easily have been among them.

"Dulcify would have won the Melbourne Cup," Thomson said.

"He was the best horse in Australia at the time and was in such good form he would have won the Melbourne Cup on class alone.

"Unfortunately, be broke his pelvis in the Melbourne Cup and we were in a very good position at the time about five lengths off the pace."

Dulcify was one of the country's great champions.

At his sixth start he won the Victoria Derby but it was in the following autumn that he really excelled.

At his second start from a spell he stormed home from the rear of the field to beat Manikato and Family of Man in the Australian Cup.

He then won the STC Rosehill Guineas and was beaten by Shivaree in the weight-for-age STC Tancred Stakes, now the BMW.

Dulcify went on to win the AJC Derby at his last start as a three-year-old after Thomson successfully protested against Double Century who was first past the post.

Thomson, who is now the Australian representative for New Zealand Bloodstock, based in Melbourne, has given his thoughts on which of Saturday's 13 runners will add his or her name to the Cox Plate honour roll.

"My choice is El Segundo," he said.

"His barrier (10) is awkward but if the pace is genuine Darren Gauci should be able to drop him over one off the fence.

"He'll run a hell of a race."

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