The old man is Robert Thompson. He is 56, by no means elderly in a general sense, but ancient for a professional jockey.

The veteran bush hoop is not a household name, but perhaps he should be. Thompson has been racing since he was 14 and has ridden more winners than any jockey in Australian history. Hundreds more than the next best, Jack Thompson (no relation), who rode 3322 winners. More also than the legendary Scobie Breasley, on 3251. More than luminaries Roy Higgins and Ron Hutchinson.

INTERACTIVE

Thompson rode winner number 4050 on Tuesday, at a small track in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, in Scone – a place he describes as "a horse part of the world".

"Lovely," he said. "Lots of studs. Beautiful place."

It is also the place where the orphan horse was born. The orphan is called Big Money, and he is the small chestnut son of Lyn's Money. Thompson used to ride Lyn's Money at the big Sydney race tracks – Randwick and Rosehill and Canterbury. She was a winner.

She died shortly after giving birth, when Big Money was only three days old. She was bitten on the nose by a brown snake while protecting her new-born foal.

The foal was traumatised, but raised by a foster mother and grew into a powerful and pretty animal, with a big chest and a blond mane and tail. His strength, according to trainer Rod Northam, is his "adaptability" to circumstance.

He raced on the speed in his youth but matured quickly. He is now in his prime and relaxes easily in the field before unleashing a fiery 300-metre finish.

"He's tough, and he rides to win," says Northam. "He's filthy when he gets beat."

He has run 12 races, winning seven of them and finishing second four times. His worst finish was in his 12th race, when he finished fourth in good company at Caulfield, shortly after being crowned NSW Country Horse of the Year.

Big Money is the third favourite in race nine on Derby day, the group 2 tab.com.au Stakes. He has drawn ideally with barrier two, and the 1200-metre journey is a perfect fit.

It will be the first time the orphan horse has run a race in a single straight line, but he will have the old man there to show him the way.

Thompson has ridden 26,374 races in his 41-year career, many in front of massive crowds, including the 1986 Melbourne Cup on Reckless Tradition (finishing seventh to At Talaq). He last rode in Melbourne 16 years ago, also on Derby Day.

"I don't think he'll have too many problems," said Thompson. "He's pretty honest, and pretty adaptable. We're in with a chance."