Phil Borland (41) has been a shareholder of the horse for the past 12 months and in that time he has seen the horse win four out of seven starts and three placings.
‘‘It's total stake is $702,000 - it's won that in the last six weeks,'' Mr Borland said.
Mr Borland has been to a few race meetings in Cromwell during the past 20 years but his racing background is far from well-informed.
‘‘I've been on the track once or twice but I wasn't that interested to be honest. I'd go to the races and I'd just get bored with it.''
However, after encouragement from a friend and reading an article quoting jockey Opie Bosson saying Tell A Tale was the best horse he had ever ridden, Mr Borland decided to buy a share in the horse for $9500.
Since making that decision the horse has fetched him $30,000.
At Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch on Saturday, Tell A Tale, ridden by jockey Troy Harris, beat the favourite Il Quello Veloce by a length and a-quarter in the first million-dollar race staged in the South Island, the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m).
‘‘It was just a brilliant ride, he just did everything perfect,'' Mr Borland said.
Three-year-old Tell A Tale paid $9.60 for a win and The Fortuna No 5 Syndicate, managed by John Galvin, divided up $600,000 in winnings.
Mr Galvin, of Hamilton, makes up the management and training team of Tell A Tale with David Ellis and Mark Walker, of Te Akau stables in Matamata.
There are 20 shareholders within Tell A Tale's ownership, many of them experiencing the thrill of racing a horse for the first time.
‘‘And they're all on the same buzz,'' Mr Borland said. ‘‘To win a race like that is quite prestigious but, like I say, I'm only just new to it. ‘‘It's not like gambling - gambling I just get bored with it, but this is just an amazing feeling.''
Tell A Tale was bought at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast for $A125,000 ($NZ147,215).
The gelding, sired by The Tale Of The Cat out of Cheeky Veronica by Sir Tristram, stormed home to victory in the Hawkes Bay Guineas in Hastings on October 4 and cleared a wall of horses to win the Canterbury Stakes at Riccarton Park on October 26.
‘‘He's come along, he just gets better and better but he's still goofing around a bit - we haven't seen the best of him yet. I think he'll win millions.
‘‘It's been a good investment already,'' Mr Borland said.
‘‘If he gets to be huge we could merchandise T-shirts and hats, all sorts of things - but who knows?''
Tell A Tale will now be steered towards the $2.2 million New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March.
