GAI’S GAZETTE12TH EDITION / AUGUST 2014 We Are One... GAI’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lea Stracey GAZETTE CONTRIBUTORS Gai Waterhouse Rob Waterhouse Zeb Armstrong es, with this, our twelfth edition of Lea Stracey Gai’s Gazette, we proudly herald Madison Whant the milestone of our first birthday. Emma Pearce Though it didn’t occur to us at the Petrea Vela Ytime, there is a happy symmetry in the fact that our birthday month will always be the GRAPHIC DESIGN & laYOUT birthday month of the Horse. It is hard to believe that a year has passed Madison Whant and that it was twelve months ago that Gai [email protected] came up with the idea of a monthly “news- letter” for you, her owners. The aim of Gai’s CHIEf photogrAPHER Gazette was to communicate with you, to in- form you, to engage with you as the extended Bradley Photographers family of Gai Waterhouse Racing. In short, to www.bradleyphotos.com.au bring you all up to date with the comings and goings of the personalities and the horses that work together to make the business of Tulloch Lodge. Editorial PhotogrAPHER August is really the month of the Horse. I like to think of this month as the calm before the storm as it is the month that heralds the coming of the excitement of the Need for Steed Aus. Spring Carnival. As January heralds the beginning of a new year in the human world, www.needforsteed.com.au in the horse world, August heralds the beginning of a new year for the thoroughbred. In the southern hemisphere, the first of August has been nominated as the thoroughbred ADVertisers horses’ birthday. The reason for this is that historically, the weather at the beginning of September starts to warm up, naturally prompting the mares to “ come into season” Trivettes Aston Martin due to the presence of extended daylight. Come September, the feed is plentiful which Goffs London means while grazing, the mares can produce plenty of nutricious milk which is what Laurneuk Stud nature intended. Hence matings occur in September and the foals are born eleven Three Bridges Thoroughbreds months later in August. During the last week in August many Horse Studs present their Round Table Racing stallions for inspection so that breeeders and interested parties can inspect the stallions Milly Blooms Bradley Photographers to decide on the appropriate mating for their mares. Eucallea Equine Zeb has provided us with his interesting perspectives on Gai’s achievements with her horses this month, as well as some forecasts on the Tulloch Lodge two-year-olds that we will see in the Spring and also the exciting stayers Gai has competing for the riches ADVertising MaNAGER of the Sydney and Melbourne Spring Carnivals. Emma continues her article on the yearling purchases that have caught her eye and Bruce Slade of Round Table Racing Ric Chapman [email protected] continues to delight us with his inciteful comments on the purchase of yearlings at this time of the year. Our production team would like to thank you all sincerely for your continuing PRINTERS warm reception of our magazine. We will endeavour to continue to bring you not only information of the racing team at GWR, but also stories of interesting horses and people Graphic Impressions around us in the thoroughbred racing industry. Remember, Gai’s Gazette – Great stories, great information and a great read! So, sit back and enjoy this, our first birthday edition. Happy Birthday to us all Lea Stracey Editor-in-Chief 4 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au Contents Sebring Page 32 Page 6 Liberation: Performance of the Month... by Zeb Armstrong Page 7 Spring Youngsters... by Zeb Armstrong Pages 8 - 9 From the Pen of the Lady Trainer Pages 10 - 13 It’s all About Timing... by Bruce Slade Pages 14 - 15 We Can’t Speak Highly Enough about Not a Single Doubt x Woodie ARQANA... by Zeb Armstrong and Page 36 Su-Ann Khaw Pages 16 - 17 Theseo and Back with Ron Nathans... Interview by Zeb Armstrong Page 18 The Darwin Cup... by Zeb Armstrong Page 19 Training in Paradise... by Joe Callan Pages 20 - 21 Saluting the Stayers... by Zeb Armstrong Pages 24 - 25 An Interview with NZ Owner Hugh Chapman... by Zeb Armstrong Pages 26 - 27 More Thinking Needed... by Rob Waterhouse Pages 28 - 29 Budding Young Apprentice Winona Costin... Interview by Madison Whant Page 30 News from Across the Tasman... by Petrea Vela Pages 31 - 34 Gai’s Group 1 Glory What An Achievement... by Zeb Armstrong Page 35 Track Snaps... By Amanda Wood Pages 36 - 37 No Doubt About it... by Emma Pearce Pages 38 - 39 Recent Winners Page 40 And from You... Liberation Page 6 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 5 Performance of the Month Photo by Bradley Photography Bradley by Photo LIBERATION By Zeb Armstrong (Fastnet Rock x Liberty Rose) ometimes things just go as trial win that certainly was not a secret. Generally two-year-olds when carrying rel- planned. Liberation (Fastnet Rock Tim Clark bounced Liberation out of bar- ative weights (between 54kg – 58kg) can’t x Liberty Rose) had two starts rier three and this was really the only thing run as fast as older horses. They are not as during his first preparation without the Group 1 winning jockey had to do. experienced, not as big or strong and simply Smuch success, but he was not getting Liberation did the rest. The colt found the can’t run the times. Therefore, a two-year- enough oxygen into his lungs and therefore lead, travelled perfectly, maintained his mo- old is almost never going to hold a course was not producing his best. He was given mentum, cornered well and extended to the record unless they win an open age race a respiratory operation and a nice long line. No other horse in the race really had a and have 45kg – 48kg but that hardly ever spell in preparation for a hopeful spring chance and the final winning margin of 2.3 happens anymore. This is why we put so campaign. When the colt came back in, he lengths could have been so much more. Not much emphasis on class records in regards made an immediate impact and he was not to two-year-olds. Liberation has now run going a day without receiving a ‘best of the ”The colt found the the 1200m at Rosehill faster than any other morning’ call from one of the trackwork lead, travelled perfectly, two-year-old horse in this class of race hoops. Was he back bigger and better? The since the introduction of the metric system. only way to know for sure was to trial him maintained his momen- Liberation’s time of 1.09.84 is also quicker in a speedy 740m trial. The result… an tum, cornered well and than most of the last ten Golden Slippers effortless five lengths trial victory. which is run over the same track and trip. From here everyone at the stable was get- extended to the line. Quite a feather in the cap of a horse having ting pretty excited about the son of Fastnet No other horse in the just its third start. Rock and half-brother to the very smart race really had a chance Congratulations to all the owners of this Liberty’s Choice. After his trial, Liberation colt. He is going from strength to strength continued to work very well and sudden- [with] the final winning at the minute and his effortless first up win ly the riders were saying ‘will win’ and margin of 2.3 lengths ...” hopefully might be a sign of things to come. ‘feeling fantastic’ rather than simply listing Well done also to Tim Clark on a perfectly him as their best on any given morning. We only did the colt win with authority but he timed and perfectly balanced ride. Tim rat- now arrive at Rosehill on 19 July 2014 and knocked almost half a second off champion ed the colt as well as possible and allowed Liberation was in the first race, a handicap Thorn Park’s class record. This record had him to show his best. It was a great win and for two-year-olds over 1200m. The colt stood for almost twelve years. Liberation’s a real thrill to see a colt of this quality do was not really wanted in the betting drifting time of 1.09.84 was not too far from All everything right after finally having enough from $6.50 to $7.20 and this was despite his Our Mob’s long standing course record. air in his lungs. ▣ 6 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au Now is the Time If you haven’t purchased your share in a prospective 2015 Golden Slipper winner, now is a very good time to choose your yearling champion as Zeb forecasts below By Zeb Armstrong hile most of the talk at this time of year is about the Spring and the Melbourne Cup, it is also an exciting Wtime of year for the younger horses. As we speak, the yearlings are about to turn two and come September they will trial before hopefully heading towards the Breeders’ Plate and the Gimcrack Stakes. There are dozens of unnamed colts, geldings and fillies currently at Tulloch Lodge and the list of possibilities is endless. Black Caviar walked into the Moody stable at Caulfield and was just another nice looking filly. When Pierro arrived at Tulloch Lodge he was a striking colt, but while hopes are Aus. Steed For Need by Photo “At the minute we know what level of ability most of the older horses have.