For their 30^th wedding anniversary, retired Horsley couple Peter and Wendy Carlile decided to take the plunge and buy a share in a race horse.

On Saturday afternoon, 14 months after winning on debut at Kembla Grange, their investment in Moss Trip could result in them capturing the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Doomben.

“It’s been such good fun,” Wendy beams when asked about the ride so far. 

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“We had always enjoyed going to the races, but it was only after we retired that we decided to look into it.

“It’s pretty amazing to be running in a Group 1 with her.”

Having never been involved in ownership before, their research led them to the now three-year-old Mossman filly – her damn sire Stratum had produced the likes of four-time Group 1 winner Streama – trained by Peter and Paul Snowden. 

Helensburgh’s Tony and Sharon Baillie are also on Team Mossy, as the ownership mobile phone group chat is known, as well as television weather man Tim Bailey.

Part of the Triple Crown syndicate, the Carliles have made a 1000km trek to be trackside at Doomben.

Their love of racing has taken them to Darwin and Perth, Quirindi and Coonabarabran. 

On Friday they stopped at Ballina, where the feature race was a modest Benchmark 70 on a Heavy track. 

On Monday, they’ll be at Scone on their way home. 

Living the dream.

And, now with a horse bought for $32,000 boasting more than $460,000 in prizemoney, their dreams could be realised about 4pm on Saturday.

In a red-hot field, Moss Trip was rated a $12 chance on Friday, with many bookies prepared to risk her after barrier draw.

Having drawn the widest barrier for the Tiara, Moss Trip finished third to Chris Waller’s Invincibella in the Group 2 Dane Ripper a fortnight ago.

She looked the winner in the straight, after jockey Brenton Avdulla made his move on the turn, but it left James McDonald with the last shot at her and Gai Waterhouse’s Prompt Response. 

But it does little to dampen the Carliles’ enthusiasm or belief in Moss Trip’s chances.

“We’ve been joking about being able to pat her on the way past,” Wendy said of the barrier. 

“We’re fine with it, she doesn’t like being locked inside other horses anyway, if she can find a nice spot it could work in her favour.”

With four wins from her last seven starts, including the Group 3 James Carr and the Scone Guineas, Peter knows it will be an emotional celebration if she wins a Group 1. 

“Every time she runs you get the tears in your eyes, it’s exciting,” Peter says.

“We’ve hit the jackpot with her.”