A horse part-owned by Hollywood star Matt Damon has won its first career race.
The three-year-old gelding named Dale saluted in a maiden at Tamworth – Australia's country music capital – on Thursday afternoon, giving the famous actor his first taste of success at the track.
Prior to a breakthrough win, Dale had placed twice in four other career starts.
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Trained by Paul Messara and Lea Gavranich, the horse was first purchased as a colt last year and is named after a character from the hit comedy, Step Brothers.
During an interview last year, Messara explained how the strange ownership came to be and the backstory behind the horse's unique name.
Matt Damon's horse Dale wins its first race. Sky Racing/Getty
"It's a bit of a long story really," Messara told SEN's Whateley.
"It was a late night over in LA and I get a phone call saying we've had this great idea and we want to buy a horse, but the stipulation is it must be called Dale.
"The story goes that basically Matt and his daughter bonded during her teenage years watching the movie Step Brothers, starring the two characters Dale and Brennan.
"Dale is their favourite and hence the colours are blue sleeves with a chequered vest."
Dale has won $32,650 in prize money so far in his career – a far cry from what Damon is likely used to earning for roles in movies such as Interstellar and the Bourne franchise.
