Good will punting: Hollywood ending as Dale wins for racing tragic Matt Damon

Until Thursday, perhaps the best thing you could say about Hollywood star and racing tragic Matt Damon’s racehorse, Dale, was he was well owned. Then Dale took a trip to Tamworth.

Horse racing tragic Matt Damon won his first race as owner when Dale won at Tamworth on Thursday. Pictures: News Corp

Matt Damon, one of Hollywood’s most famous movie stars, may never have heard of Australia’s country music capital of Tamworth – until now.

Horse racing tragic Damon won his first race as owner when Dale, trained at Scone by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, scored in a lowly maiden at Tamworth on Thursday.

Dale had been placed at Mudgee and Muswellbrook at his first four starts before finally breaking his maiden as the $1.50 favourite.

“I was exchanging emails with Matt in LA before the race and I told him it was ‘Dale’s Day’ today,’’ Messara said.

“It was an ‘ugly’ watch, Dale struck a bit of trouble but he was good enough to overcome that and win the race.

Well owned: Dale, who is part-owned by actor Matt Damon. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“This is the first horse Matt has ever owned. He and his daughter, Isabella, have shares in Dale and they are loving the experience.’’

Damon is an Oscar-winning actor who has played starring roles in blockbusters like Good Will Hunting, Oppenheimer, The Martian, Saving Private Ryan, the Jason Bourne and Ocean’s trilogies, The Talented Mr Ripley, The Departed and Ford v Ferrari.

Matt Damon shares the racing adventure with his daughter. Picture: Getty Images

His movies have earned nearly $4 billion at the North American box office, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

Messara met Damon through a mutual friend, Paul O’Brien, who shares in the ownership of Dale with the actor.

O’Brien operates a private air charter service that is used by VIP’s like Damon when they are in Australia.

Messara was introduced to Damon at the Melbourne Cup Carnival two years ago and described the Hollywood star as “the loveliest bloke you would ever meet.’’

“The one thing about Matt Damon is he doesn’t know he is Matt Damon,’’ Messara said. “He just wants to enjoy the fun and banter that goes with owning a racehorse.’’

When Damon asked Messara to buy him a racehorse, the only stipulation was it had to be called “Dale”.

The story goes that the actor and his daughter have a favourite movie they often watch together called Step Brothers, a comedy starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, who plays a character called “Dale”.

When Damon asked about getting a racehorse, Messara recommended a yearling by leading sire Castelvecchio that had been passed in at the Magic Millions Sale two years ago.

“The horse was coming along nicely so I thought maybe this could be Dale. Then I had to make sure the name was available, which it was,’’ Messara said.

Messara said he expects Damon will one day want to make the trip down under to watch Dale race in person.

Originally published as Good will punting: Hollywood ending as Dale wins for racing tragic Matt Damon