It is the dilemma that small stables face with an emerging star all too often: stick with the man who got you there or go to the proven big name.
So for Doug Crich and his fellow owners in Jonker, when the call came from Hugh Bowman's agent for the ride in the Magic Millions Classic in December, they were left with two options.
Pick and stick with Aaron Bullock, who has been in the saddle for gallops and the two wins in the Max Lees Classic and Wyong Magic Millions, or go with the world's best jockey.
It was the fairytale or be the Grinch.
"There is a reason why these jockeys are riding and winning in these races all the time," Crich said. "They are the best at what they do and in any other field you want to have the best on your side.
"It wasn't that hard a decision - you don't get the chance to have Hugh Bowman ride your horse too often in a $2 million race, but we knew it would be hard on Aaron.
"We are probably not going to be in this place again so we did what we think gives us the best chance.
"If Jonker was to win on Saturday, of course there is going to be something there for Aaron because he has been so much a part of the getting us to this place."
Bullock rode the Spirit Of Boom colt as he put three-lengths on his rivals in the Max Less Classic and then again in the Wyong Magic Millions when the margin was more than four lengths.
He will be watching from Randwick on Saturday as Bowman is legged-up in the Magic Millions Classic on the $45,000 purchase.
Crich said he couldn't have dreamed of how well everything had gone, including Tuesday's barrier draw where his colt came up with gate three.
"We have only looked at this race and haven't even got him in the Golden Slipper. This has been the goal since we knew he was very good," Crich said.
"It has worked out perfectly for us and if he was to win on Saturday then we might look at paying the late entry for the Slipper, but we haven't looked past Saturday."
Despite drawing the best gate of the three favourites, Jonker has drifted to $5 to share the second line of betting with Ef Troop behind solid-supported favourite Sunlight, who has to overcome gate 15 to live up to his $3.90 favouritism.
Sunlight has put big gaps in her rivals in both er lead-up runs at the Gold Coast and despite the draw trainer Tony McEvoy remains confident.
"She has had the perfect lead-in to the race and I would say she has improved since her last win," he said. "The draw looked bad but she is out there with all the speed and should get a good run and be able to pulled out in the straight and go bang."
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