Top jockey Mark Zahra is content with his "head over heart" decision to ride Without A Fight in the Melbourne Cup, having turned down the chance to defend his title with Gold Trip.
Zahra weighed up the historical significance of attempting to steer the first back-to-back winner of the race that stops a nation since legendary mare Makybe Diva's famous hat-trick of 2003-2005.
He also had his heart strings tugged by the strong connection he shares with Gold Trip, who is second-favourite for Tuesday's $8 million feature as a 58.5kg topweight.
But as the pair crossed the line fifth behind Romantic Warrior in last Saturday's Cox Plate, Zahra's Melbourne Cup decision became clear.
"It was just something inside of me," Zahra said on Wednesday.
"With (Gold Trip's) weight and having two tough runs ... I just thought it might be a bit beyond him to try and do the same thing he did last year.
"We had soft tracks (last year) and I think everything was put on.
"The stars aligned for Gold Trip ... and it's not often the stars align two years in a row."
It is the second time in a month Zahra has been forced to choose between the two outstanding gallopers.
He committed to ride eventual winner Without A Fight for the Caulfield Cup before Gold Trip, who finished third under Ben Melham, was accepted for the race.
Afterwards, Zahra revealed he had endured sleepless nights around the gut-wrenching, if successful, decision.
But that experience helped him make peace with the tough call this time around.
"I just had to really separate the two of them, because with my heart I'd take Gold Trip every day of the week," Zahra said.
"When you win a Melbourne Cup on a horse, it creates a special place in your heart as it is.
"And because his manners are so good as well, it's a double-whammy.
"But when I weighed it all up, I said I'd have to break up with him for this race. Hopefully he'll let me give him a pat after the race - win, lose or draw."
Third-favourite Without A Fight will carry a 56.5kg impost in the Melbourne Cup.
A one kilogram penalty for winning the Caulfield Cup isn't a concern for Zahra, nor is the seven-year-old gelding's Melbourne Cup history: the son of Teofilo finished a disappointing 13th last year under William Buick.
"He's come back really well this preparation and he's a horse that gets back in his races," Zahra said.
"My job's going to be getting him to relax for the Melbourne Cup journey, which he sort of failed at last year, but he's a different horse this year.
"If I can get him to relax ... he's got a devastating turn of foot and he'll be right in the finish."
Zahra's decision opened the door for back-to-back Cox Plate-winning jockey James McDonald to pick up the Melbourne Cup ride on Gold Trip for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
"I try not to think about it," Zahra said when asked about the prospect of McDonald steering Gold Trip first past the post.
"It's going to hurt if he wins but I've made my decision and I'm comfortable with it."
Zahra plans to work Without A Fight for the second time this week on Friday in the build-up to the Melbourne Cup.
