Trainer Kevin Kemp is daring to dream of his biggest win in racing after floating his bargain basement horse from rural Toowoomba to lush Flemington for Saturday's Group II Gilgai Stakes (1200m).
The former taxi driver took out his trainer's license in 1978 but and has won some Listed races along the journey but never a Group II event.
He is hoping the aptly-named Sold For Song, a cheapie horse bought for just $2500, can give him a career highlight and make all those early morning starts worthwhile.
The 63-year-old trainer will kickstart his mare's spring campaign in the $200,000 Gilgai but the main aim will be back in mares' grade in the Group II Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 21 where he reckons she will be a good blowout chance.
The dry-witted Kemp has literally taken the road less travelled with his mare.
"There was no way I was going to contemplate flying her down, I would have driven her all the way from Toowoomba to Brisbane (two hours) and they probably would have kicked her off the flight and turned me away," Kemp said.
"So I jumped on the road and drove her down, we stopped at Dubbo overnight where we stayed with local trainer Frank Hayes and had a bit of fun.
"Country people look after you like one of their own and Sold For Song had a great stable and a sand-roll where she was able to have a play around."
Kemp is the first admit to say he is throwing his mare in the deep end on Saturday, up against potential rivals including last year's Group I Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback.
But he is convinced his mare, to be ridden by young Queensland jockey Jimmy Orman on Saturday, has plenty of class and won't let herself down.
Most recently she ran an unlucky fourth behind Tycoon Tara in the Group I Tatt's Tiara (1350m) at Doomben after being poleaxed during the race by runner-up Prompt Response.
And while Sold For Song has only won three of 21 starts, Kemp points out they have almost all been in black-type races.
She needs everything to go her way during her races and she generally flops out the back, but she is capable of producing a devastating finishing burst.
"I realise she is running into a really tough field on Saturday but I think she will be competitive, and it is the Tristarc we really want to target with her," Kemp says.
"She has been good all the way through for us, I think 19 of her 21 races have been at least at Listed level.
"When she has been beaten, she is generally only ever a couple of lengths or less from the winner."
While Kemp is shooting for the stars with Sold For Song in the Melbourne spring, he says the cheapie horse who has won $443,450 has already taken him on the ride of his life.
While some publicity-shy trainers can be reluctant to pick up the phone when journalists ring, Kemp loves hearing from the Fourth Estate.
"Whenever my phone rings and a journalist is calling, it is good because I know must have a decent horse," Kemp says.
"Journos wouldn't be ringing me about some my horses in Dalby maidens, that's for sure."
