A year after Bossdon City gave Albury’s premier trainer his first win in the race, The Monstar ensured Cavanough quickly forgot about Price Of Glory’s heartbreaking loss in the Albury Gold Cup with a devastating drive to the line.

Cavanough said the fact the horse was trained, owned and prepared at home made it all the more satisfying.

“It’s great to win it with a horse we’ve educated at home and done all the work at home and sold it to a couple of local blokes and their mate,” he said.

“It’s been a good day for the home breds.

“I’ve said it before, this day is my grand final.

“We had two winners and two seconds and a bit of bad luck with Niblick, so it’s pretty satisfying.”

Champion jockey Damien Oliver controlled the 900-metre race aboard Rose of Falvelon but was grabbed on the line as The Monstar burst through.

Who’s Paying finished third, ahead of well-backed favourite Sumakaray.

“It’s the most quality that he has faced,” Cavanough said.

“He was down on the canvas and fought back and beat them both.

“We took him on a few road trips to try and educate him but it hasn’t made much difference.

“He’s very hard to manage.”

Cavanough said The Monstar was suitably named.

“He’s institutionalised,” he said with a laugh.

“We were talking about putting him in the paddock but you turn him out and he just runs and doesn’t behave himself.

“How can you go and turn him out when he comes out and beats those sorts of horses?

“He was a bit crazy, to go with it, so he’s aptly named.”

Cavanough is the first trainer to successfully defend the Flat Knacker crown.

And he is already hinting at having a go at making it a hat-trick next year.