KEY POINTS:
Steve Phillips will be happy to be the man who sold the Miracle Mile winner for a song.
Because it will make sure he gets a lifetime of fun out of it.
Auckland-based Phillips and his wife Anne used to own and train Iron Hudge, who raced in New Zealand as Hudge.
Back then he was a battling one-win pacer who was used in amateur driving races, hardly the pathway to pacing glory.
Since being sold to Australia and renamed Iron Hudge he has been the surprise package of the Grand Circuit, showing massive heart clashing with the likes of triple Interdominion champion Blacks A Fake.
While he has yet to win a major race in Australia, Iron Hudge has been so consistent at the elite level he has muscled his way into Friday night's A$500,000 ($595,000) Mile at Harold Park in Sydney.
While Phillips could be bitter about selling a Miracle Mile contender for just over $20,000, he is not that sort of person.
"I'd love to see him win, for two reasons," he explains.
"Firstly the guy who now trains him, Mark Rolfe, is a good guy and we have a lot of contact with him.
"But more importantly it means I could keep giving Barry Lichter a hard time for the rest of his life."
Lichter is the well-known Auckland racing journalist who dabbles in amateur driving and he once drove Hudge at Alexandra Park.
Hudge wasn't on his best behaviour and a disappointed Lichter told Phillips he hated the horse.
"All the amateurs love giving Barry a hard time about that. About how he couldn't get him going but now he is a star," said Phillips.
The road from amateur workhorse to the Miracle Mile may seem a steep one but Phillips is not totally stunned.
"He just wasn't our sort of horse but he always had ability.
"Because we didn't like him all that much we used him in the amateur races and to be honest, I was happy enough with the money we got for him.
"But once he got over there he thrived, with the weather and the different training regime.
"He was bred to get better with age, but quite this good is a surprise."
Iron Hudge has the right draw to get some serious money on Friday too, with barrier three giving him the chance to settle close to favourites Blacks A Fake and Changeover.
And already money is coming for the big horse, who could well start fourth favourite in the super sprint.
Kiwi challenger Changeover continues to be the best backed runner in early betting for the Mile, moving in from $6 to around $4.50 right across Australasia. That has forced favourite Blacks A Fake out to $1.80 in Australia from his opening quote of $1.60, although he is still shorter with the New Zealand TAB.
Safely through Friday's race, Iron Hudge could be a factor in all the major races across the Tasman, with Rolfe's long-term aim the Interdominions.
And if he wins that, Steven Phillips really will have some fun.
