It was the ride of Brock Ryan's life and Kembla Grange trainers Robert and Luke Price were moments away from executing a plan months in the making.

But Hugh Bowman on Victorian raider I'm Thunderstruck had other ideas.

In the final bounds, lifted the Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained four-year-old gelding and breathlessly swept past to claim the crown.

Read more: Think It Over claims $1 million bonus for Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker

Still, Count De Rupee was amazing in defeat and ensured the Price team walked away with the $1.5 million prize for second, as well as the enduring respect from everyone on track.

"Just amazing, I've been riding a long time and I've ridden some amazing horses, as we all know, and the feeling I got today is what it's all about," Bowman said.

"I balanced up and I was full of running, I actually left Brock's back at the top of the straight because I was going so well.

"I thought I don't want any excuses being held in and while I was making myself clear, Brock's skipped away, put about four and a half on us I think.

"I didn't panic, I balanced him up and when I went for him I found and about the 200m he swapped legs and I just had to let himself get organised and honestly I was just a passenger.

"He just took me to the line and I made a point of not getting in the way and he delivered in spades."

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It came after Kerry Parker took out the $1 million bonus for winning the Rosehill Gold Cup with Think It Over and Theresa Bateup's Divine Breath was a superb third in the inaugural $700,000 Four Pillars race for Provincial and smaller Metropolitan stables.

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