It was not that he was upset with the run which took Shes All Business to victory in the concluding race of the 29th Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival, but because he was thinking about what went begging earlier in the evening.

It was Thomas’ colt Bettermatch who had been the hot favourite to take out this year’s Group 1 Gold Crown Final, a record of five wins from as many starts seeing him start as a $1.80 prospect.

Going from barrier two further enhanced the chances of the Kenneth J x Livelymatch favourite, and in the opening strides he went to the lead for driver Stephen Maguire.

But within the space of 50 metres, Bettermatch dropped a knee boot and galloped.

By the time Maguire was able to get the colt back in stride he had dropped back to sixth and from there he never recovered. He went on to place 10th in the two-year-old colts and geldings feature, finishing 241⁄2m behind winner Shadow Runner.

“He hasn’t pulled up the best, but anyway that is racing. We are a bit disappointed,” Thomas said. “We hope we will be back again next year. We like coming up here.”

Four scratchings saw the field for the Gold Tiara Consolation reduced to nine and Thomas’ two-year-old filly benefited as she went from barrier three to the one gate. That saw her rated as a good chance of success as the $3.90 equal second elect.

With Maguire in the gig, Shes All Business joined Mammals Rockstar in being the best from the mobile barrier.

Mammals Rockstar went a little roughly, but she recovered and pressed forward once more to cross and take the lead.

David Miles then punched forward with Bold Comment Lombo to take up front spot, shuffling the Leeton filly three back on the inside. 

But while track announcer Kevin Thompson mistakenly called her More Business, the name of one of Thomas’ former carnival runners, Shes All Business lived up to her name when it mattered.

Bold Comment Lombo put the foot down through a 28.7 seconds third sectional and pulled three lengths clear of the chasing pack, but that effort told down the home straight.

As Bold Comment Lombo tired, Maguire came off the pegs with Shes All Business and quickly reeled in the deficit with a burst of speed.

At the post it was Shes All Business by a neck over Bold Comment Lombo ($7.60) in a 1:56.9 mile rate – a time quicker that what Gold Tiara Final winner Pixies Parlour (1:57.7) had clocked.

“It’s something,” Thomas said as he accepted the winners’ trophy. 

“The race caller called her More Business all the way and he actually won a consolation up here – he wasn’t far wrong, but it was just the wrong horse.”