BRAD Rawiller was just 13 when he said he wanted to ride in a Melbourne Cup.Almost 20 years later, the Bendigo jockey today will realise his dream on board reigning champion and favourite Viewed.In the race that stops the nation, Rawiller is riding the horse that will get the most attention - somewhat fitting considering the name of Bart Cummings’ stayer.Rawiller’s mother Elaine said yesterday that reaching the race had been a phenomenal achievement, and she now hoped only for her son to do his best.“My main thing is that he rides it well and that he’s happy with how he went,” she said.“For him to come back win, lose or draw, and say he gave it his best, that’s all you can ask.”The silence at the barrier, seconds before the gates open and the thunder of 24 sets of hooves first echoes around Flemington, is not a time to reflect on one’s career. If Rawiller did, however, he would remember sacrifices and hardships, a long period of just being good enough followed by a sharp rise to the top. “Brad was a good jockey for a long time but he didn’t get that break,” Elaine said.“No one in the racing world would say he didn’t deserve it now.”Rawiller, 31, got his break on champion Weekend Hussler. He had to wait until he was 28 to record his first Group One victory, then recorded only one more in the following 10 months.Rawiller then won seven Group Ones in less than a year with Weekend Hussler.It was yet another test of resolve for a man who had always been determined.Elaine remembers Brad at 16 asking his father Keith if he could go to a Blue Light disco with school friends.“Brad had just started doing trackwork and Keith - who wasn’t hard on the boys, but made sure they worked for everything - said 'Yeah, you can go, but don’t bother showing up in the morning',” Elaine said.“Brad didn’t go to the disco.”His family, who share a proud association with horses, will be at Flemington today.Among them will be fiancee Carolyn Hornsby, who Brad met during his regular runs alongside the Maribyrnong River.The only absentees will be siblings Todd and Stacey, who will be at a race meeting in Horsham training and riding respectively.Elaine said others - such as Alan Browell, Brad’s former master, and his son Darren - would also be watching in earnest.Taking particular note will be Nash, Brad’s older brother and fellow jockey, who has ridden in the Cup before.“Nash is the calming influence,” Elaine said.“He says to just treat it like any other race, which of course is easy to say, but people don’t realise that they do race every single day.“We just leave him alone and let him get in the zone and do it.“But for Brad to be on the favourite will be pretty exciting for everyone.”