Enver Jusufovic's journey from life in a caravan to Cox Plate
Enver Jusufovic was hard up winning picnic races in the late 1980s, while living in a caravan parked on a friend's property in Pearcedale, to dream about saddling a Cox Plate starter.
On Saturday the humble Cranbourne trainer, son of migrant parents, who sold The Herald newspaper as a kid growing up in Footscray, has underdog in the $5m Group 1.
Jusufovic should be easy to find at The Valley on Saturday should the humble introvert with a dry wit go through with a pledge to buy a new race day suit to replace a threadbare faded pinstripe charcoal number, he bought in Collins St for $2500 more than 20 years ago.
"I'm trying to get a suit similar to Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny, I think that would look good," Jusufovic said.
"It's not high on my list (new suit), I do need to do it and I just got to remember to do it."
The caravan Jusufovic lived in, during his years as a picnic trainer after working for Four ‘N' Twenty, has also stood the test of time.
"It's still there, too," long-time friend and stable volunteer Tony Vagg quipped.
"Nothing lives in there now, I tell you."
Jusufovic trained a couple horses for Vagg to "help pay the rent" as he forged a picnic racing career after being denied a full license by respected stewards Pat Lalor and Des Gleeson.
"I needed a place, I needed stables, I didn't know anyone because I'd been working at Four ‘N' Twenty and I just got my picnic license," Jusufovic said.
"I went in there for a trainer's license and they (Lalor and Gleeson) saw right through me, I didn't know enough, and they said you can have a picnic license and progressed from there.
"I see them today and they go ‘you've done us proud, we never thought you'd make it, never thought you'd last', they're good blokes."
Pinstriped (left) secured his spot in the Cox Plate by winning the Feehan Stakes. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images
Jusufovic has dodged the pre-Cox Plate hoopla, focused on routine and $71 Cox Plate rank outsider Pinstriped, including Breakfast With The Best last Tuesday.
He also politely declined multiple lunch invitations, on brand with the "keep it simple" style.
"I'll stay out of the spotlight," Jusufovic said of his race day approach.
"I'll watch the race on my own and I'll watch it from a spot I can take it all in, see the crowd, I just want to see the expressions on their faces and how they enjoy it.
"It's what I'll be looking at it, as a kid it's what I used to do, watch people, watch reactions, I'm an observer, and to see the joy and heartache (racing) brings to them.
"It's not about me, it's about enjoying the whole event."
Pinstriped earned his way into the Cox Plate with victory in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes – a qualifier for the $5m weight-for-age championship of Australasia.
A first-up second placing behind Mr Brightside in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes put the Cox Plate on Jusufovic's radar, but the preparation has always been "race by race".
A luckless Toorak Handicap run cooled expectations, but thankfully Pinstriped, who like seven-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood has a "kissing spine" issue, pulled up great.
Pinstriped, largely restricted to equestrian work to build fitness and remedial massage, is in career best condition for Saturday's main event.
"He won't disgrace," Jusufovic said.
"He's had two starts at Moonee Valley for two wins, he's very fit, these are the positives, the negative is he's never raced over 2000m, so that's an unknown.
"He's raced against this level before, but he had issues. He seems good at this point in time.
"The barrier (11), it's interesting, there's a lot of speed, everyone is going to want to be in the box seat but you can't squeeze a square into a circle … it's going to be exciting."
Jusufovic has grand plans for his share of any prizemoney Pinstriped earns, new "tyres for the old (Nissan) Kluger out there" and "hot jam doughnuts" for the staff.
Vagg chimed in with the final word, not for the first time one would suspect.
"You'll be back Monday to write a story."
