crackerchalk
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Even in the eccentric world of horse racing, the tale of Turbo Linn is one well worth telling.
Raised on the hills near Lockerbie she has won her first eight races in a row and now has her sights set on an international success.
In the process, she has captivated followers of a sport which loves a rags-to-riches story.
Owner and breeder Jimmy Nelson, 83, knew he had something special on his hands from the start.
The foal quickly left its mother trailing in its wake - by far the quickest animal Linn Hall had ever seen.
After four decades breeding horses, Mr Nelson had found his own overnight success, proving that it pays to be patient.
EIGHT IN A ROW
Oct 2006, NH flat race, Carlisle
Nov 2006, NH flat race, Lingfield
Mar 2007, NH flat race, Catterick
Mar 2007, NH flat race, Southwell
Apr 2007, NH flat race, Aintree
Jun 2007, Barton Maiden Stakes, Catterick
Jul 2007, Lancashire Oaks, Newmarket
Jul 2007, Plantation Stud Stakes, Newmarket
"You have no option working with horses - they don't hurry along sometimes," he admitted.
"It is great fun we are having with the horse, we never expected it to do what it has done.
"But we would like to have another win - just for the hell of it!"
He has watched all of her successes so far and hopes to follow his horse wherever she might go for nine-in-a-row.
Scaling heights
Under the watchful eye of Yorkshire trainer Alan Swinbank she has taken an unconventional route to becoming the sport's new "super filly".
"Jimmy Nelson did what he could up on the hills but she took a bit of breaking in," he said.
"She has done very well for us in what she has done so far - and there is a lot to look forward to."
Turbo Linn
The Lockerbie horse is congratulated by jockey Neil Callan
It all started off in a national hunt flat race - more commonly known as a "bumper" - at Carlisle but has now scaled the heights of back-to-back wins at the home of racing, Newmarket.
In football terms, it is like an Ayrshire junior footballer turning out in the Champions League.
Or, if you prefer politics, a community councillor getting a seat in the Cabinet.
Along the way she has never tasted defeat.
In a sport often obsessed with breeding, the four-year-old hardly comes from the most promising stock.
Her sire Turbo Speed was a fair handicapper while dam Linns Heir was a national hunt flat race winner.
But something in that combination has produced a horse that has made an amazing rise to the top.
She may not be Scotland's answer to Seabiscuit but her story has captured the imagination of all but the most cold-hearted punter.
Global targets
Her string of victories has certainly endeared her to gamblers in south-west Scotland, who have cashed in on her local connections.
She had been due to race at Newbury this weekend but it looks like that has been put on ice.
However, she retains entries for the likes of the Stockholm Cup in Sweden and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in Australia.
Her trainer has not ruled out a tilt at even the Ascot Gold Cup in the future.
But, wherever she goes, be sure to watch out for Jimmy Nelson's battered bunnet somewhere in the crowd.
Raised on the hills near Lockerbie she has won her first eight races in a row and now has her sights set on an international success.
In the process, she has captivated followers of a sport which loves a rags-to-riches story.
Owner and breeder Jimmy Nelson, 83, knew he had something special on his hands from the start.
The foal quickly left its mother trailing in its wake - by far the quickest animal Linn Hall had ever seen.
After four decades breeding horses, Mr Nelson had found his own overnight success, proving that it pays to be patient.
EIGHT IN A ROW
Oct 2006, NH flat race, Carlisle
Nov 2006, NH flat race, Lingfield
Mar 2007, NH flat race, Catterick
Mar 2007, NH flat race, Southwell
Apr 2007, NH flat race, Aintree
Jun 2007, Barton Maiden Stakes, Catterick
Jul 2007, Lancashire Oaks, Newmarket
Jul 2007, Plantation Stud Stakes, Newmarket
"You have no option working with horses - they don't hurry along sometimes," he admitted.
"It is great fun we are having with the horse, we never expected it to do what it has done.
"But we would like to have another win - just for the hell of it!"
He has watched all of her successes so far and hopes to follow his horse wherever she might go for nine-in-a-row.
Scaling heights
Under the watchful eye of Yorkshire trainer Alan Swinbank she has taken an unconventional route to becoming the sport's new "super filly".
"Jimmy Nelson did what he could up on the hills but she took a bit of breaking in," he said.
"She has done very well for us in what she has done so far - and there is a lot to look forward to."
Turbo Linn
The Lockerbie horse is congratulated by jockey Neil Callan
It all started off in a national hunt flat race - more commonly known as a "bumper" - at Carlisle but has now scaled the heights of back-to-back wins at the home of racing, Newmarket.
In football terms, it is like an Ayrshire junior footballer turning out in the Champions League.
Or, if you prefer politics, a community councillor getting a seat in the Cabinet.
Along the way she has never tasted defeat.
In a sport often obsessed with breeding, the four-year-old hardly comes from the most promising stock.
Her sire Turbo Speed was a fair handicapper while dam Linns Heir was a national hunt flat race winner.
But something in that combination has produced a horse that has made an amazing rise to the top.
She may not be Scotland's answer to Seabiscuit but her story has captured the imagination of all but the most cold-hearted punter.
Global targets
Her string of victories has certainly endeared her to gamblers in south-west Scotland, who have cashed in on her local connections.
She had been due to race at Newbury this weekend but it looks like that has been put on ice.
However, she retains entries for the likes of the Stockholm Cup in Sweden and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in Australia.
Her trainer has not ruled out a tilt at even the Ascot Gold Cup in the future.
But, wherever she goes, be sure to watch out for Jimmy Nelson's battered bunnet somewhere in the crowd.
