Penrith Panthers group CEO Brian Fletcher likes to joke that if his horse Waterford was as reliable as the four-time NRL premiers, “he would have won $4 million in prizemoney by now”.
Unlike the Panthers, Waterford has made a habit of breaking the hearts of favourite backers. But he gets his best chance yet to atone in Tuesday’s $750,000 Little Dance.
Fletcher, the man who signs the cheques at the Panthers, admitted he had lost the trust of senior Penrith stars Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin after tipping them Waterford for no return too many times.
Waterford has been rolled as top pick no fewer than six times, including a race at the start of last year when defeated by eventual Everest winner Think About It.
“He’s always having bad luck – if Penrith had as much bad luck, we would have lost five grand finals, not won four of them,” Fletcher said. “But Tuesday is his day. He will win a decent race. When, I don’t know? But I’m hoping it is Melbourne Cup Day.
“He’s been frustrating, but you know before he races he will always get back and need luck. He’s drawn well on Tuesday, and to be fair, it’s probably one of the weakest races he’s been in for a while.
‘Tuesday is his day’: Brian Fletcher is bullish about Waterford in the Little Dance.Credit: Getty
“I know a few of the Penrith boys are sick of me tipping Waterford to them because he’s been so unlucky. They never go overboard, but I’m sure they’ll have a few dollars each way on him again.”
Fletcher, who worked at the Hawkesbury Race Club for nearly 30 years before taking the reins at the Panthers, has enjoyed success as an owner with the likes of Scallopini – a winner of $1.5m in prizemoney – and Bold Chief, which won plenty of good races for John Hawkes.