Two-time AFL premiership coach Denis Pagan is now a group 1 winning horse trainer after his galloper, Johnny Get Angry, outlasted his rivals to claim Saturday's VRC Derby.
The former North Melbourne and Carlton coach, who has been in the racing game less than a year, couldn't hold back his emotions immediately following the race.
Pagan coached the Kangaroos to premierships in 1996 and 1999, so how does the feeling of winning Flemington's $2 million race compare to the AFL's ultimate?
"This is 10 times better at the minute, I can tell you," an elated Pagan said after the race.
"It's an amazing feeling. I thought it was pretty low-key, handled it (well), had a good lunch yesterday, probably had too much to drink, and I thought it would just come along.
"I didn't expect this, and it's happened."
Johnny Get Angry -- a three-year-old gelding -- was a $21 outside chance in the race and had to fight off highly favoured duo Young Werther and Cherry Tortoni in the finish.
It was also a first group 1 win for apprentice jockey Lachlan King, whose father Steven won the race on Star Of The Realm back in 1991.