When it comes to racing thoroughbreds, Phil Ward is proving to have a Midas touch.
Not only does he share in the ownership of Group-winning three-year-olds Libertad and Autumn Ballet, he also happens to have a stake in exciting Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer Just Fine.
Unbeaten in two Australian starts, Just Fine is set to become the first horse to start an odds-on favourite in The Metropolitan (2400m) after landing an ideal barrier in two – a gate plucked out by Ward at Tuesday’s draw.
But while Ward is enjoying a wonderful run so far this spring, it has been a slow and steady journey to reach this point.
“I’ve owned horses for quite a long time, but I’ve got more actively involved over the last few years,” Ward said.
“I’ve got a few with Gai and Adrian, also with Annabel (Neasham), Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher. I’ve got a couple of good ones, Libertad with Annabel and a small bit of Just Fine – I think I own the nose.”
As a client of Waterhouse and Bott’s, Ward was happy to back the team when they went shopping at last year’s UK Tattersall’s Horses in Training Sale.
The stable came home with two gallopers, Just Fine and Special Envoy, a Saturday class winner at Randwick in July.
Just Fine equalled his travelling companion’s feat when scoring at his local debut on September 2 then raised the bar again with an astounding performance in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) where he rode a brutal speed and sprinted off it in a dominant display.
It has been a rapid rise and Ward is dearly hoping Just Fine can continue it and deliver him his maiden Group 1 win as an owner.
“It’s just so exciting,” Ward said.
“From not having run in Australia four weeks ago to being a short-priced favourite for the Metrop, it’s quite something.
“I’ve only had two runners in a Group One previously, so third time lucky.”