About Us

About Win Ahead

At Win Ahead, we’re not just about tipping winners — we’re about bringing people into the game. Our mission is to make horse racing and sport more exciting, more rewarding, and more connected than ever before.

Through our Win Ahead Members Club, members enjoy weekly and monthly prize draws, real racehorse experiences, and the chance to win from our exclusive “Dynamite Tip” and “Triple Play” bets — all while following the journey of our own racehorse, Enchantment.

Behind every giveaway and tip is a commitment to fairness, transparency, and entertainment. Whether it’s one of our main prizes, a shot at race-day ownership, or watching our chosen horses storm home, Win Ahead is designed to make you feel part of the thrill — not just watching from the sidelines.

We’re a community that celebrates the wins together, learns from the losses, and enjoys every moment in between. Win Ahead — where passion meets the journey.

About the Founder — Elias Mantinaos

Behind Win Ahead is Elias Mantinaos, a lifelong racing enthusiast whose passion for the sport began at a young age. Growing up in Canberra, Saturdays meant one thing — the racetrack. Dad would take us to the races and we’d roam the betting ring and parade yard. In the 1980s we even collected discarded betting tickets for tin cans, loading them into the back of Dad’s old Valiant Regal to cash in later.

Amidst those simple days, one thing always stood out — the power and beauty of the thoroughbreds. My sister Renee, brother Michael, and I would each pick a horse, watch them parade, race, and cool down in the wash bay. Those memories became the foundation of my lifelong love for racing — even through the hard times that followed, including my sister’s passing and my parents’ separation.

Elias with racehorse Dodecanise, early 90s — In the yard with Dodecanise — early ’90s

Form study and race analysis in the 1990s — Form study & race analysis — 1990s

In 1990, Dad’s small share in a horse named Dodecanise changed everything. He became a top performer — and for me, a symbol of hope. From that moment, I was hooked. I began studying form seriously, writing for The Racing Post, and later worked as a full-time racing analyst at IASBET (now part of Sportsbet). That experience eventually led to a successful career as a professional punter, living the dream while travelling the world.

Life evolved — I started a family and co-founded another business that’s still running successfully today. But through it all, my love for racing never faded. Whether studying form, attending race days, or owning horses, I’ve remained deeply connected to the game I grew up loving.

Win Ahead is my way of giving something back to the sport — to share the excitement, the community, and the sense of belonging that racing has always given me.

Elias with family — With the family — the real winning team