When the gates crash back in the $400,000 G1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm, regardless of the result, a dream will be realised for a lucky group of average joe owners.

Just being there will be a dream come true because their path to racings biggest stage came not through regally bred thoroughbreds with the matching price tag but rather from a bargain second session filly from Inglis' Melbourne Premier Sale.

The $16,000 Soldier's Tale filly from the draft of Swettenham Stud was only the second horse purchased by the, then newly formed, value syndicator, Grand Syndicates. She would be offered for just $1100 a share and would attract a group of owners from all walks of life - a factory worker, an accountant, a miner and a bunch of cricket mates just to name a few. Many of who were beginning their first venture into horse ownership and hardly dreaming of having a crack at G1 glory.

It's not just her owners who've had an unorthodox journey, their $1000 filly now known as Khutulun, hasn't had the typical lead-up to a 2400m G1 Oaks either. In fact the lightly raced and progressive filly is in just her first preparation for young Caulfield trainer Luke Oliver. Since her unexpected debut win at Kyneton over 1200m, when travelling wide all the way, Khutulun has continued to take her racing to a new level each start.

Following that effort up with an impressive Sandown placing, she then put the writing on the wall with a strong win at Sandown over 1600m. That day she was forced to push forward from a wide gate and fought on doggedly, showing some of the toughness that her G1 winning sire was renowned for. Two more strong placings over 2000m at Caulfield followed against the boys, including returning the 2nd fastest final 200m of the day at her last effort when chasing Derby hopeful, Sonntag, home. This stamped her credentials as a strong staying filly and pushed her case for the $11,500 late entry fee for the G1 Queensland Oaks. Considering in all of her five starts, she is yet to have things go her way and with a healthy bag of prizemoney behind her already, the decision made itself. 

From here most of her owners would say that the result next Saturday is a just a bonus. Though with Khutulun currently sitting as an $8, 3rd favourite with Sportingbet, one gets the feeling that this fairytale story may not quite be over just yet for Grand Syndicates and their bunch of everyday, average joe owners.