The orphan's fairytale

The duo won the race from two other Oaks entries, Bright and Clear and Sunray Superstar. Bookmakers rate Shadow Dancing at around 20-1 for the Oaks - which appears excellent each-way value.

Dwyer's rise has not exactly been meteoric. One of four children born to a post office worker and a seamstress in the district of Whiston, near Liverpool, life wasn't easy and you had to be able to look after yourself. "We had no connection with the sport. My dad had his bike nicked from outside the bookies one day. That's the closest he's been to racing," Dwyer laughed.

He left school at 15 and went straight to trainer Ian Balding's stable, where he has been based ever since. He rode out his apprenticeship, and his quiet unflustered manner has since attracted a discerning clientele including Tregoning, who said: "He fits the filly down to the ground. I wouldn't want anyone else to ride her in the Oaks."

Dwyer soon made his mark when arriving at Balding's, winning the stable lads boxing championships which he did by drawing on his ability to look out for himself in tough surroundings.

Since then he has married Claire, the daughter of trainer Willie Muir, and their son, Joseph, is nearly one but he's not likely to follow his father's trade after weighing in at 7lb.

Dad doesn't look much older either. The baby faced horseman found his motor hemmed in by five police cars coming back from York races once because they thought he was a teenage joyrider. Now he drives a royal blue Mercedes.

Last term Dwyer landed four Group races and ended up by winning the Cesarewitch on Balding's Distant Prospect.

"I would name Distant Prospect as the one to watch in the top staying handicaps this season," Dwyer said. "Mr Balding also has a first class crop of two year olds this campaign, many of them yet to run, so keep an eye on his juvenile brigade."