It was as if a rock star was in town.
Poor old Bart Cummings simply wanted to go to church on a Sunday morning in peace and quiet.
But this time of year in Melbourne, he can't do a great deal without the attention of all and sundry.
Cummings was the star of the show at yesterday's 51st racing fraternity mass at St Francis church in the Victorian capital.
Among those present were familiar faces such as trainers Joe Janiak and John O'Shea, jockeys Michael Rodd, Michelle Payne and Hugh Bowman and luminary owner Lloyd Williams.
But there was only one man that people wanted to see or talk to. Bart.
It's that time of year, and only one more sleep until the Melbourne Cup.
It's Bart Cummings's time.
And this year is no different. It's been well publicised Cummings has already won 12 Melbourne Cups.
Tomorrow at Flemington he has three runners Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder all bidding to win him his baker's dozen.
Every move that Cummings makes in Melbourne around Cup time, a horde of media and fans are there.
At yesterday's annual church service, he was mobbed by television cameras and journalists, all hanging on his every word.
That's the thing with Cummings; you need to hang on every word because as humorous as his one-liners are, they are exactly that one-liners. His answers are always short and to the point, never long-winded.
Like yesterday for example.
After talking to complete strangers for almost 15 minutes after church, having them wish him luck for tomorrow and say to him that they had been following him for 30 and 40 years, Cummings walked to his nearby car with a media pack trailing.
''Mr Cummings are you confident of a 13th Melbourne Cup win?'' one journalist asked him.
''Never confident, only hopeful,'' was the master trainer's reply.
''How did Viewed pull up from his Mackinnon Stakes win?'' another scribe fired off.
''Viewed, yeah he's got a chance,'' was Cummings's smug reply.
''Is he the best of your three runners Mr Cummings?'' was the next contender.
''He's got a bit of weight, doesn't he?'' Bart replied. ''But he's a good horse. He should be OK with it.''
''What did you make of his run on Saturday?'' a television journalist asked.
''It was good. Did you think so? I did,'' was Bart's response.
And just as he was about to reach his car a two-door blue sports car with the number plates JBC 333 the big question arrived.
''What did you pray for in church Bart?''Quick as a flash Cummings answered, ''just another winner''.
Not that James Bartholomew Cummings needs divine intervention in his quest for Melbourne Cup glory.
But he may yet get it, with isolated showers falling yesterday and more forecast for today and tomorrow.
''Rain wouldn't hurt,'' Cummings said. ''It's been pretty dry around here. Would help the farmers.''
Two of Cummings's three runners Viewed and Roman Emperor appreciate rain-affected tracks.
His third runner, Allez Wonder, shudders at the sight of a cloud.
Cummings fared OK at Saturday night's barrier draw. Viewed will jump from gate nine, Allez Wonder from 13 and Roman Emperor 15.
Viewed started from barrier eight when he won the Cup 12 months ago.
His jockey Brad Rawiller described his starting gate tomorrow as ''ideal''.
''I'd rather be drawn in the middle like we are than drawn too far in,'' Rawiller said. He believed Viewed's third in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington would ensure the six-year-old was at his peak for tomorrow's $5.65million race.
''Each run this preparation has been perfect from a Melbourne Cup perspective,'' the jockey said.
''It was a solid workman-like run in the Mackinnon which is exactly what I was expecting.''
Rawiller rode Viewed to his Caulfield Cup win 16 days ago, but as good as the ride was, it didn't elevate him to rock star status. But a repeat on the biggest stage of all would sure change that. And we all know there's an 81-year-old bloke called Bart, already on that stage waiting for somebody else to join him.