The popular Rylstone trainer notched up what was a heartbreaking second in the $50,000 Bathurst Cup earlier in February, his six-year-old Subway Surfer bobbing late as Hirokin snatched victory by a nostril in the sought-after cup.

And in race three at Mudgee, the $30,000 Tabcorp Holdings Limited Class 1 and Maiden Showcase Plate (1600m), Hook's bay gelding again made his trainer sweat bullets.

Subway Surfer ($14) went hoof-to-hoof with Cameron Crockett’s Dubali ($4.80), the pair requiring a photo finish to determine the winner.

Only this time, Hook’s gelding snuck home to win by the closest of margins over Crockett’s handy six-year-old, another of the Mudgee trainer’s stable, Kingsbridge ($4.40), finishing third.

“I was nervous,” Hook grinned.

“I didn’t think we’d won that today. We were probably 30 metres down and then the boys at the winning post said ‘no, he’s got his head in at the right time’,”

“I said ‘well that’ll be a change’,” he laughed, Hook receiving plenty of congratulations after the win.

He said Subway Surfer has a tendency to keep company when finding the post. 

“He’s only ever won by a nostril,” Hook said.

“He just seems to know when to get there.”

Hook’s last win was at Cowra in January with Blue Collar Boy, but before that his previous winner was with Sunday’s gelding Subway Surfer, back in August at Dubbo.

“It’s always a good feeling getting the win,” he said.

“They don’t come very often.

“He’s always been a handy sort of a horse. He’s run fourth a lot and a couple of his runs at Hawkesbury were very nice, then they come back here and he doesn’t put it together.”