‘People’s horse’ Just Fine finished royally last, but to the mare’s 1600 syndicate owners she’s a dream maker

For the 1600 part owners of Melbourne Cup runner Just Fine — some of whom paid just $250 for a slice of the syndicate — the fact she was last home matters little. For retired Shep farmer, Kevin Fraser, she’s “the dream of a lifetime”.

Just Fine led the field on the first lap in the Melbourne Cup, but finished last. Picture: Getty

A motley bunch of horse lovers had won before the Melbourne Cup had even started on Tuesday.

While connections of most of the 23 horses in the race that stop a nation are used to a life of luxury, the 1600 part owners of outsider Just Fine were living their dream just having a runner in the Melbourne Cup.

Not only did they have a stake in champion trainer Gai Waterhouse’s only runner, they did so after offloading as little as $250.

Just Fine, previously owned by King Charles, presented as the people’s horse in the $8.5m Melbourne Cup.

Just Fine syndicate members Vicki Booes, Elizabeth Bellos, David Buttigieg, Sharon Crapper and Kevin Fraser at the Cup. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Just Fine ridden by Jye McNeil in the mounting yard prior to the running of the Lexus Melbourne Cup. Picture: Brett Holburt

And the everyday people gathered at Flemington to cheer him, said the Irish import made them feel like winners regardless of the race result.

Melbourne’s Louise Brock said she was “living the Australian dream’’, rubbing shoulders with new friends from the likes of Perth, Canberra and Queensland united by their Cup entrant.

“I’ve lived my whole life living the Melbourne Cup and I never thought I’d ever have a runner in it,’’ she said.

“There are so many of us here today’ we’ve really bolstered the incoming numbers — we made it a sell out.’’

Louise Brock, one of the owners of Just Fine, as part of Myracehorse. Picture: Alexandra Feiam

Trainer Gai Waterhouse. Picture: Michael Klein

For the early stages of the 3200m slugfest, Just Fine had her admirers in raptures as she raced to the front and flagged hopes of the ultimate fairytale.

Retired farmer Kevin Fraser travelled from near Shepparton to see the action and despite his horse finishing last said: “It’s the dream of a lifetime.

“It’s a horse that was owned by the Queen and the King and now us – the people,’’ he said.

Retired Whittlesea firefighter David Buttigieg was among the throng of hopeful shareholders pinching themselves trackside pre-race and already looking towards next year’s Cup afterwards.

Just Fine, dubbed “the people's horse" at the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Alexandra Feiam

“Getting a horse here is unbelievable isn’t it?,’’ he said.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been to a Melbourne Cup and the only thing wrong is getting a beer – it tales about three hours and they don’t take money you’ve got to use a credit card.’’