Here they were, parked at a pub kilometres away from Flemington, after Universal Prince had been scratched on veterinary advice on the morning of the Melbourne Cup.

Murray and Davies had tried to prove he was ready to run, after Universal Prince was injured in the barrier in the McKinnon Stakes.

In the end, they could only watch the television as Caulfield Cup winner Ethereal claimed the 2001 cups double. ‘‘We couldn’t stay on course obviously, so we went to a pub just out of Melbourne and watched the race there,” Davies said after Murray’s passing. 

‘‘That was probably one of the worst days but every other day with Bede was good.’’

With four Group 1 victories, Universal Prince’s powerful ability to hit the line was on full display in a commanding 2001 AJC Derby triumph at Randwick. 

From there he won only one of his next 15 starts, the turn of foot limited after a fall at the Singapore International in the May of 2002. With seven wins and 10 placings from 30 starts, he was retired to stud with earnings of almost $3 million. 

Almost two decades earlier, Hussar’s Command provided Murray’s first foray into the great race.

It was an eye-opener for the Illawarra icon, finishing second in the Hotham Handicap (now the Lexus Stakes), earning a place in the Melbourne Cup. 

Hussar's Command had really lifted Murray’s standing, winning the 1982 Villiers before snaring the Doomben and Ipswich cups.