And that is why jumps jockey Michael Mitchell hopes to reward such loyalty when he climbs aboard High Forty in the $75,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton tomorrow.
Mitchell (24) has been the regular pilot this winter for the 9yr-old trained at Wingatui by Brian and Shane Anderton but was unavailable for High Forty's Otago Steeplechase win on May 31, due to an engagement on Back In Black in the Australian Steeplechase at Ballarat.
''The Andertons have been good to me,'' Mitchell said yesterday.
''I had to get off him to ride in Australia and I was fortunate enough for them to give me the ride back when I came back. I was very pleased that they were loyal to me.''
You could argue Mitchell has already repaid the Andertons' faith, winning twice at Timaru aboard the son of Danzighill before claiming last Saturday's Koral Steeplechase quite comfortably by 4 lengths.
''I was quite impressed with him really,'' Mitchell said.
''It was his first time this season being among the northern horses and it was a good gauge of where he was at and how competitive he was. All through the season he has been very consistent - it's a brilliant training effort really to keep a horse at that level for so long.''
High Forty drops 0.5kg to 69.5kg tomorrow, although Mitchell said the big weights on High Forty's back this year had not been as arduous as they might have been.
''The weight hasn't really been felt at Timaru and a lot of these steeplechase tracks because the ground is not being used. It's a lot firmer than what the rating is for the racecourse, so you don't actually feel the weight.
''If it was a heavy10 or a heavy11, I think he would actually be feeling the weight a lot more than he has been. But on these good tracks, it's not quite as important - he hasn't really had to deal with it too much.''
High Forty has been at his best when settling behind the leaders and being saved for one run.
Mitchell hopes that eventuates, but is not going into the 5600m feature with preconceived ideas.
''I leave my tactics until they're out of the gates and find a spot,'' he said.
''You can never quite plan where you're going to be. [Sitting just off the pace] would be the go, but you never quite know.''
High Forty lasted the distance in last year's Grand National, but was too far back to make his bid, and Mitchell expects the journey - and the obstacles - will not trip up the gelding.
''If he settles well, and jumps well, it shouldn't be a problem [getting the distance],'' he said.
''He was pretty good [with his jumping]. I gave him enough room and he's pretty experienced. He looks after you out there and he doesn't get too carried away.''
Mitchell will look to rectify an average ride on Yardstick last week when he pairs up with the John Wheeler-trained hurdler in race 1.
''It wasn't my best ride, to be honest,'' he said.
''I wanted to be handier and missed the kick and that was the race over and done with on that kind of ground. When you're that far behind, it gave the horse no confidence.
''The horse finished off strongly enough so, hopefully, we can improve on that on Saturday.''
