Noel Harris, who won the Winter Cup at Riccarton on Saturday aboard Art Beat, has ridden in the race over a period of 38 years.
Harris (57) brought Art Beat from back in the field to become the first mare to win the race for 11 years since the Jenny Vance-trained Zabeel's Angel in 2001.
Art Beat is trained at Matamata by Wayne and Vanessa Hillis and justified the $2300 late-entry fee paid by her owners, Jim Marks, Gary and Shirley Bluett.
Harris won the 2002 Winter Cup on Real Vision after attempting to win the race for 28 years.
It was his 15th ride in the feature.
He has now had 23 rides in Winter Cups, the first on Wellineas in 1974.
Wellineas finished 19th in a field of 21, with Dandyman the winner.
Harris, who had not ridden in the Winter Cup since 2009, has come close to winning on other occasions.
He was beaten a nose by Fairfield Lad when riding Tilbury Docks, the favourite, in 1987.
He rode Go Bush, who ran Rongonui to half a head in 1988.
Harris was also runner-up on Go Bush in 1991 behind Robyn's Affair and second on Betta Watch in 2004 behind Go The Naki.
• Tick Tock Turbo recorded his fifth at win at Grand National meetings on Saturday at the age of 11.
Tick Tock Turbo, owned by his trainer Lisa Latta, had been off the winning list since he won at the National meeting two years ago.
He was ridden by Robert Hannam, who won a double on Tick Tock Turbo at the 2009 National meeting.
Tick Tock Turbo won a maiden race at the 2008 meeting when ridden by Bruce Herd.
Jonathan Riddell rode Tick Tock Turbo to win in 2010.
The Turbulent Dancer gelding finished third in the Winter Cup and fourth in the Winter Classic at the National meeting last year.
Latta also won with Platinum Lincoln and Princess Lincoln for Lincoln Farms Ltd on Saturday.
It was the third win on end for Princess Lincoln. Platinum Lincoln was having his first start.
The Iffraaj-Midnight Call gelding was a $60,000 purchase at the select yearling sale at Karaka.
