Ned Power, from Dunmain in Wexford, is well-known to many farmers. In a long career with FBD, he has been on farms all over the country. This week Ned was in ebullient form as his sons Robert and Walter have just won the Melbourne Cup, the world’s richest two-mile handicap and one of the most sought-after honours in horse racing.

Walter and Robert are co-owners of Dunmain, a civil engineering company based in Sydney and named after the New Ross townsland from which they hail. They left Ireland to make their way while still in their teens, and worked their way up, like so many.

The horse, Protectionist, is from Germany and actually beat a horse the brothers own in a race in Germany recently. A deal was agreed with the German owner, and it ran in his colours, with both parties sharing ownership one last time on Tuesday in the big race.

The $6.2m Australian dollar (€4.25m) prize is split between the Australian syndicate the Power brothers belong to, which also includes fellow Wexford emigré Fergus Doyle, and the German owner. The syndicate now take outright ownership of one of the world’s leading four-year-olds.

Ned was up at 3am Irish time to watch the race and shared in the victory afterwards.

“The boys are cousins of Aidan O’Brien, they’re now able to say that they’ve won something he hasn’t yet achieved,” chuckled Ned.