In the end it didn’t matter as he surged home on board Daysee Doom to claim the $600,000 Coolmore Classic from Oregon’s Day with a half head back to Silent Sedition.

It was his first major senior win after only joining the senior riding ranks a little over a month ago.

Now, the odds are shortening of the 20-year-old appearing at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November – it just depends on when.

“There is nothing better than a Group 1 win other than a Melbourne Cup, so it’s the pinnacle,” Adkins said.

“It’s always good to get a winner, but a Group 1 winner it’s something you really want and it’s what you wake up every morning dreaming about.

“I never thought I’d be able to do it, so to be able to do it on a mare that has been so good to me and keeps making me look good was a special moment.”

Adkins drew barrier 14, but didn’t let the challenge get to him – he’s already had plenty of success with the five-year-old Domesday mare.

“I’ve got a very good relationship with her,” he said.

“She’s a very nice horse and I’ve won seven races on her and four group races now so she’s a horse I hold very close to my heart.

“It was always going to be a bit tough. She bounced out well so I was able to do it with less effort as possible and travel really well and she took me right up into the straight.”

She surged to the lead with about 300 metres to go before Adkins held on to ride his very first Group 1 winner.

“At about 300 she hit the front and it was a long 300 from there I know that,” the 20-year-old said.

“But she’s a gutsy little mare and she tries her heart out which is good.”

The Port Macquarie hoop remained grounded after winning his first Group 1 race.

He has his sights set on winning a Sydney premiership before he has a crack at the race that stops the nation.

“It makes it feel like a Melbourne Cup ride is a bit closer within reach,” he said.

“Whether that’s this year or in 10 years, it’s not something I dream about consistently.

“People dream about winning the lottery, I dream about winning a Melbourne Cup; that’s the sort of situation we’re in.

“That’s the end goal.”

Adkins said there wasn’t a specific amount of winners a jockey had to ride to be eligible for the Melbourne Cup.

He’ll keep doing what he’s doing.

“It’s up to the trainers; whether you’ve ridden a lot of group winners or not a lot of group winners you can still get a ride in it,” he said.

“It’s just the luck of the draw.”