But despite his unflattering monikers and infamous history, the Michelle Manning trained and driven five-year-old has exceeded all expectations by qualifying for Saturday night’s $250,000 SEW-Eurodrive Inter Dominion trotting Final at Moonee Valley.

 “You dream of having a horse good enough to run in an Inter Dominion,” The Great Western trainer/driver said. “But I didn’t think it would be this one.

“He’s just improved so rapidly. It’s only now as a five-year-old that he’s learnt to settle down that we’re seeing the best of him, so it’s very exciting.”

Having made the 2575-metre final courtesy of a terrific second placing last Saturday night, Manning has found herself caught between celebrating her trotter’s unexpected elevation to the big time and her need to focus on the challenge at hand.

For now her hopes are understandably modest. But she’s not forsaking the fairytale finish until the fat lady sings.

“We’ve got one big aim,” the trainer said. “That’s to trot away safely from the mobile.  He’d had three mobile runs before last week and galloped away in all three of them, so if he can settle with them and weigh in, I’ll be happy.”

“This horse is still a TMO (assessed trotter) so he’s surprised us all. I certainly don’t expect to win – I won’t say no if we do – but just being in the final is a great feeling.”

Perhaps the greatest testament to Bete Noire’s unforeseen explosion into the big-time was owner Russell Edwards’ frank assessment of the decision to enter his son of Sundon in the Inter Dominion series at all.

“Russell said, ‘I thought I was paying $1,000 for Michelle to get a drive in a big race’,” Manning reported.

There may be truth in that quote yet.