Dream come true for owners of Melbourne Cup runner Prince of Penzance

THESE mates kept their decision to buy a racehorse secret from their partners, thinking it might just win one country meet. Now they’re the proud owners of a Melbourne Cup winner.

Melbourne Cup rage to riches. Mates (l to r) Mike Botting, Greg Williams, Sam Brown, Scott Jenke, Adrian Brown and Tim Ashdod, who co-own Prince of Penzance who will race in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. The group of six can't believe their luck after they decided to try their hand at racehorse ownership over a few beers five years ago, now stand on the brink of a fairytale. Picture: Eugene Hyland

SIX mates have lived their Melbourne Cup dream.

Describing themselves as “small fry owners’’, the men decided to pool their cash and buy a nag they hoped might win at a country meeting.

Five years later that group are now the part-owners of a Melbourne Cup winner — Prince Of Penzance, nicknamed POP.

“We are still pinching ourselves,’’ co-owner Sam Brown said.

The syndicate — a podiatrist, a couple of engineers, an IT consultant, a solutions exp­ert and a producer — bought a couple of tried racehorses but found only limited success after chipping in $5000 each.

Keeping it secret from their wives and girlfriends, they scraped together enough cash for one last try — buying a 10 per cent stake in a yearling.

The horse they have fallen in love with, Prince Of Penzance, has beaten the odds.

Despite sickness and injury, POP has netted more than $600,000 in prizemoney from 23 starts and earned a start in the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup rags to riches: Mates Mike Botting, Greg Williams, Sam Brown, Scott Jenke, Adrian Brown and Tim Ashdod. Picture: Eugene Hyland

“It was a pure last throw at the stumps,’’ Mr Brown said.

“We didn’t even know if he would make the racetrack or not.

“We had no money left for more horses so we were prepared to get out of the game if he was no good.’’

Rather than throw in the towel, the team instead saw their beloved horse jump from barrier 1 as a $101 outsider.

They are odds the team was more than willing to take, ­believing he could run better than most punters think.

“We still can’t believe it and are shaking,’’ Mr Brown said prior to the race.

“We have no expectations. Just to have a runner in the race is unbelievable.

“We are planning to enjoy the day and soak up the atmosphere.’’

Adding to the take, Mich­elle Payne piloted Prince Of Penzance as the only female jockey in today’s Cup field.

“I’ve been looking forward to this race on this horse for a couple of years,’’ she said.

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Originally published as Dream come true for owners of Melbourne Cup runner Prince of Penzance