Racing: Luck of the Irish a plus for Chance Bye in A$3.5m Slipper

SYDNEY: Michael Tubman has Chance Bye trained to the minute for the Golden Slipper but just in case she needs it, she also has the luck of the Irish on her side.

"My mother's name is Kathleen, my wife's name is Kathleen, my jockey is Kathleen, it's an Irish thing," Tubman said. So far Chance Bye hasn't needed luck, but those who finished behind her in her three starts would have liked some.

She goes into today's A$3.5 million race at Rosehill undefeated but still many question her form.

But not Tubman, who relies on his eyes and a stopwatch to tell him how well she is doing.

In a world where horseflesh changes hands for hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars, the story of Tubman and Chance Bye has given hope to the less well-heeled.

The filly was passed in for A$20,000 at the yearling sales and Tubman went round to have a look at her because he had trained a close relative.

He offered A$15,000, which was accepted. The only problem was Tubman didn't actually have the money, which was where long-time client Jack Knight stepped in.

Knight had to wait until she raced for his money, but Chance Bye didn't let Tubman or jockey Kathy O'Hara down, winning A$150,000 on debut.

More importantly, she was backed from A$25 to start at A$4 and Tubman makes no secret of the fact he had a bet.

John Messara runs Arrowfield Stud where Chance Bye's sire Snitzel stands and he is also the managing owner of million-dollar colt Beneteau, who runs in the Slipper. "If we don't win, then I'd like to see Chance Bye win. Not just for Snitzel, but for everybody. It's such a great story."

- AAP