It was almost a year ago when Melbourne jockey Luke Nolen was unconscious after a serious fall at Doomben and his future was in grave doubt, but that failed to deter the Cox Plate-winning rider who bounced back to land his fifth Group One win aboard Duporth in the BTC Cup at Doomben.Duporth got up in the last bound in a nail-biting finish on Saturday to edge out the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bank Robber by a half-head with Apache Cat just a nose away third.Nolen, who won the 2007 Cox Plate on the E

It was almost a year ago when Melbourne jockey Luke Nolen was unconscious after a serious fall at Doomben and his future was in grave doubt, but that failed to deter the Cox Plate-winning rider who bounced back to land his fifth Group One win aboard Duporth in the BTC Cup at Doomben.

Duporth got up in the last bound in a nail-biting finish on Saturday to edge out the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bank Robber by a half-head with Apache Cat just a nose away third.

Nolen, who won the 2007 Cox Plate on the El Segundo, suffered severe leg and facial injuries when his mount Antidotes fell in last year's Group Three BTC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben.

"I had to win this. I've had too many bills to pay," Nolen said.

"I was out for three months following the fall and I had to let my body heal but it took me another three months to find form again.

"I just needed time for my body to heal but I was always going to come back to riding."

Duporth's win repaid the faith Sydney trainer Anthony Cummings had in the three-year-old who had been out of luck in many major races during the colt's career.

Cummings was surprised when Duporth's number went up in the winner's frame.

"I thought he had run second or third," Cummings said.

"But I thought today was always going to be his day.

"He hasn't had much luck in a number of the bigger races. He's a top quality three-year-old but he had no luck racing against the best in the country.

"I set my sights on winning the Newmarket in Melbourne with him and if he had got the gap he would have run a clear second."

Cummings will now set sail with Duporth into the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 23 before the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle farm on June 6.

Waterhouse's stable spokesman Denise Martin is looking forward to a rematch with Duporth and Apache Cat in the Doomben 10,000.

"Blake (Shinn) was over the moon with his run. It was his first run for six months and it was only in the last 50 metres they got him," she said.

Trainer Greg Eurell was not downcast following Apache Cat's defeat.

"There's no shame going down by a short margin in a big race like this," Eurell said.

"The horse is in super order and he'll peak after this run.

"He's going just as well as last year but I think there's more depth in these big races now."

Jockey Damien Oliver said Apache Cat hit a flat spot at the top of the straight and was worried he wouldn't figure in the finish.

The major disappointment came from Group One Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace who was taken on in front by Bank Robber before weakening to finish last.

Trainer Mick Mair was concerned in the enclosure before the race when the four-year-old entire was reluctant to go onto the track.

"He was cranky in the yard and I'll give him a couple of days to see whether he goes any further," Mair said.