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Watch: part-owner of 100-1 Group 1 winner goes wild celebrating victory

Gatting: stunned favourite Mystic Journey on Saturday
Gatting: stunned favourite Mystic Journey on SaturdayCredit: Kelly Defina (Getty Images)

Winning the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at 100-1 was nothing but a pipedream for Gatting’s part-owner Marc Paratore when he woke up on Saturday morning.

But now Western Australia has a new racing star, the six-year-old gelding who knocked off Cox Plate favourite Mystic Journey in an epic performance – an achievement that even led to some minor injury concerns for Paratore.

“I’m very sore, my shoulders and back are absolutely killing me because of those air punches!”

Paratore became an overnight internet sensation when he was filmed cheering home Gatting during the final stages of Saturday’s Group 1.

“It’s a little unnerving to let every punter in Australia into my loungeroom to see that raw emotion.” he said.

“As the race went on and on I thought 'are they going to catch him?' I was expecting him to run a good race, but not to win it.

“It’s a crazy feeling, I’ve always dreamed of having that happen, having a horse in a race lobbing at 100-1, and being a Group 1 made it that much more special.

“Just for him to be a Group 1 horse means a lot, he will be the best horse I’ll ever have in my life.”


Well named

Makybe Diva Stakes winner Gatting has one of the better monikers in racing, being by sire Hard Spun out of Stubborn.

The name refers to Middlesex and England cricketer Mike Gatting, who was bowled by what was termed 'the ball of the century' from Australian leg spinner Shane Warne in the first Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 1993. The ball pitched outside leg stump before turning sharply past Gatting's pads to hit the wicket. The bemused batsman stared at the pitch before accepting that he was out and walking off.

The dam's name enters the equation as it refers to Gatting's famous on-pitch row with umpire Shakoor Rana in India in 1987.

Gatting got into a row with Rana about field placings. The umpire demanded an apology but the then England captain refused to do so unless Rana also apologised to him.

A standoff ensued and the foreign office became involved before Gatting reluctantly backed down.


A significant amount of fanfare has turned Paratore into somewhat of a cult hero for punters. However, he is just happy to be a part-owner of the horse.

“You don’t need to own a lot of that horse to have that feeling, that’s the key thing to take away, anyone can get involved and this is what can happen if you do."

Once the win sunk in, there were no glamorous celebrations for the thrilled owner, just a couple of mates and a few drinks at the local pub watching the football and his beloved Newcastle play Liverpool.

Sadly for Paratore, Newcastle, despite taking a shock lead, were beaten 3-1 at Anfield.


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Published on 15 September 2019inInternational

Last updated 10:52, 15 September 2019

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