Nash Rawiller has virtually sealed the Sydney jockeys' premiership with a masterful quartet of winners at Randwick on Saturday.
Rawiller began the day half a win behind Hugh Bowman in their intriguing battle for the 2012-13 title and ended the meeting 2-1/2 ahead with Bowman getting one on the board.
A suspension which prevented him riding at Canterbury on Wednesday now looks even more costly for Bowman with just seven races at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, the final meeting of the season.
But Rawiller is not taking the title for granted even though bookmakers have suspended betting on the premiership and he has the advantage.
"It's not over until the fat lady sings," Rawiller said.
"Hugh's got a nice book of rides on Wednesday."
At the end of the autumn carnival, Rawiller was 13-1/2 wins behind Bowman on 41 but over the past three months has upped the ante in pursuit of his third title and now has 75 winners.
He made his intentions clear early on Saturday with victory on the Allan Denham-trained Watabout for George Altomonte.
He won the feature on the day, the July Sprint on See The World for Joe Pride, the three-year-old fillies race on the David Payne-trained Queen's Elect and Eigelstein for premier trainer Chris Waller.
Payne was fulsome in his praise of Rawiller.
"He makes the difference," he said simply.
Waller has been a long-time supporter of both jockeys.
"We always try to get the best jockeys and they are the best," he said.
Bowman's lone win came aboard Follonica in a 1200m race for fillies and mares.
"It's stopped the bleeding," Bowman said.
That was short-lived with Rawiller riding two more winners after Bowman's success.
The two have won the past four premierships between them, a remarkable feat given they are both regarded as heavyweight riders.
While Rawiller is attached to the Gai Waterhouse stable, Bowman is freelance with many of his rides coming from Waller who had his third trainers' premiership wrapped up before Christmas.
He heads to Warwick Farm on 167-1/2 wins for the season, a Sydney record that looks safe for many years after he passed the previous mark of 156 earlier this month.