3RD EDITION / OCT-NOV 2013 GAI'S GAZETTE

HORSES LIVING THE DREAM GAI’S NEW RACING CLUB FOR EVERYONE

THE WATERED TRACK DEBATE

AN INTERVIEW WITH MONTY ROBERTS Proudly Sponsored by Magic Millions

WIDDEN STUD Valley of Champions

he relationship between Widden Stud and Gai Waterhouse is a very long and successful one that is showing no signs of abating. Widden Stud is simply one of the most picturesque stud farms in the world with rolling hills, spacious paddocks, the magnificent crystal clear Widden Creek and iconic Aussie bush surroundings. These 8,000 acres are an absolute haven for young horses which are growing, maturing and developing in strength. TCurrent Widden stallions Dreamscape and Sebring were both trained by Gai Waterhouse and both are now booming successes at stud at Widden.

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 3 GAI'S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lea Stracey EDITOR Madison Whant GAZETTE PRODUCTION MANAGER Ric Chapman hat do you say when your best friend says to you “I’ve got [email protected] this terrific idea for a monthly magazine and I want you to be Journalists Wthe editor?” Zeb Armstrong Well, when that friend is Gai Waterhouse you say “Yes!”. So, here we are David Bay into edition number three and I’m writing my first Editor’s letter. If your Grant Vandenberg Rob Waterhouse comments after reading the first two editions of Gai’s Gazette are any Madison Whant indication, we have kicked off with a bang! A big thank you for that – we love your feedback – especially when it has been so positive about our Graphic design & layout content. Madison Whant What’s it like working on a magazine you might ask, and a monthly chief photographer one at that? It’s about teamwork, time management, aeroplane flights, Bradley Photographers conferences in coffee shops, emails, photographs, many phone calls and text messages and lots of proofreading (not to mention the odd late night Major Sponsors before going to print!) It’s been a fabulous funfilled, fast paced time (is it Emirates Park Stud ever anything else with our Gai?), and it’s only just begun….. Magic Millions Widden Stud Sydney’s Spring Carnival is here and it brings as a teaser, the cliffhang- Living The Dream ing excitement of next year’s two-year-old sprinters. Recently I witnessed some of Gai’s potential stars winning at the two year old trials. It’s so Major contributors satisfying to see the positive results of the Waterhouse team’s work in Zeb Armstrong the yearling selections. But more importantly, for the moment at least, Tom Simpson our racing enthusiasm turns to the stayers and the Holy Grails of Racing Need for Steed Aus Mark Gatt in Melbourne – the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. As you will read inside our Gazette, the Gai Waterhouse teams, both human Advertising Manager and horse, are “all systems go”. Fiorente has recently won the Group Adrian Bott Two Dato Chin Nam Stakes in blistering style and the Group Ones in Melbourne, of which there are many for the taking, await him and the PrINTERS other champions of the Waterhouse team. So, dear readers, buckle up Graphic Impressions and enjoy the ride with us and always remember “what a difference a Gai makes!” Happy Racing.

Lea Stracey Editor-In-Chief

4 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au page 6 contents

6-7 FROM THE PEN OF THE LADY TRAINER

8-9 RECENT WINNERS

10-13 LIVING THE DREAM page 20

14-16 IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JOHN MCDONNELL

19 EXTRA... EXTRA... READ ALL ABOUT IT

20-21 BEHIND THE VEIL: WITH NEIL GRIGG

22 FUTURE FORECASTS

page 12 23 PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH

24-25 ROB WATERHOUSE

26-28 MONTY ROBERTS page 26

29 THE PHYSIO FILES

30 BREEDING BLUEBLOODS

32-33 BEHIND THE SCENES: STEVE O’HALLORAN

34-36 BACK IN THE DAY WITH T.J. SMITH

page 18 38 AT THE TRACK: WITH NEED FOR STEED AUS

39 YEARLINGS: WITH NEED FOR STEED AUS

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 5 INDUSTRY FOCUS From the Pen of THE Lady TRainer

ai’s Gazette is being well while other first place getters were at the trials and all are examples of received and I must say it is by some world famous sires and young horses that have come along G a real pleasure to be working even some stallions that spent their beautifully in the last weeks. with the team to bring you the publi- racing career at Tulloch Lodge. A cation each month. We have writers, number of breeders were present at ome owners say to me not to photographers, journalists and edi- the trials also looking at their gradu- worry about the Breeders’ tors each of whom performs a crucial ates. Representatives from Coolmore S Plate or the Gimcrack Stakes role in producing the magazine. I am were keeping an eye on the prog- and to instead try and concentrate thoroughly enjoying the challenge of eny of Fastnet Rock and the team on the bigger autumn riches with producing the gazette. from Widden were keeping a close their two-year-olds. But I cannot At Randwick on 23 September the eye on the sons and daughters of stress enough how crucial it is to official two-year-old trials took Dreamscape who overall performed take the two-year-olds that are ready place. There were many owners exceptionally well. to the early trials, and qualify them watching their charges parade for It is amazing how quickly these for the two juvenile races on Epsom the first time. It really was a great babies can come to hand. The week day. This gives the babies a chance atmosphere and an exciting day. before the trials I was still yet to to amass some prize money and You never know - the next Pierro decide if some of the young ones gain race experience. Then I send or Black Caviar might have trialled were ready to step out or not. Within them out to the paddock to rest their right in front of our eyes! My team a few days the turnaround was quite young bones and grow and develop of two-year-olds are perhaps as fit remarkable. Shoulder Charge (Big in preparation for races like the as I have ever had a juvenile team at Brown x Shovoff), Wandjina (Snitzel Magic Millions (those who are quali- this time of year. First season sires x La Bamba) and Star Thoroughbreds fied) and the Holy Grail for two- such as Dreamscape, All American Giuliani (Manhattan Rain x Sea Eye year-olds - the Golden Slipper. Early and I am Invincible all had winners Pea) were three of the standout colts exposure in my experience allows

Blake Shinn on Tiare (right), jumping well from the barriers. Pic by Need for Steed Aus Pic by

6 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au INDUSTRY FOCUS From the Pen of

THE Lady TRainer Tim Clark on Pic by Bradley Photographers Breeders’ Plate winner and Gai Waterhouse trained, Law.

a young horse to find its speed and ince I last put pen to paper in and the two glorious Cups. The strengthen its core and have a leg my monthly column, I have team down south are ‘going great’. up towards the big two-year-old S travelled to Melbourne to Of the six horses that are currently races. We, after all, have the rich- train horses, ventured to the Gold down there, four have won. The est two-year-old race in the world Coast for the Magic Millions Ready Flemington stable is ticking along and it is important to have the best to Run Sale, and been hustling and really well and I would like to take chance each and every year to win bustling my way around Sydney pre- this opportunity to thank my team this race. If a horse is competing in paring the team for the Epsom, the who are keeping things in order what I have dubbed ‘the Hurry Up Metropolitan, the Spring Champion there while I am in Sydney. Good Stakes’ and is being rushed to the Stakes. Once run, Rob and I settle horse people cannot be clock watch- Slipper they inevitably fail. I have in to Melbourne for the Carnival of ers because the thoroughbred has five Golden Slipper trophies sitting Carnivals which await runners such no sense of time, and the team at on my dining table. That’s right, the as Romantic Touch, Country Man, Flemington indeed know this and Lady Trainer keeps her Slippers very Divine Calling and Rockford. I will are doing a fantastic job. The results close, to remind her of exactly what more regularly find my way down to speak for themselves. Better catch she is aiming for every Easter with Melbourne and try and bring home the next flight...... her young horses. the Caulfield Guineas, the Cox Plate See you at the races..... ▣

Here is a list of Gai’s babies that contested the official two-year-old trials run at Randwick on 23 September. Keep an eye on this group because they might just be something very special.

FESTIVITY (Nicconi x Merrier) Star Thoroughbreds 3rd PRECIA (Testa Rossa x Involve) 2nd LAW (Denman x Lady Cat) Star Thoroughbreds 2nd WANDJINA (Snitzel x La Bamba) 1st DONELLE (Not a Single Doubt x Avarice) 2nd TWIRL (Lonhro x Cirque Du Soleil) 1st HIMPAPAWID (Dreamscape x Ulap) Gooree 1st I’M IN LOVE (Fastnet Rock x Livealifeoflove) 8th IMPORTANT (Denman x Prestigious) Darley 3rd VONETTA (Not a Single Doubt x Magic Zefta) Star Thoroughbreds 3rd RICH RUPEE (Manhattan Rain x Beauty School) 4th BAYROCK (Fastnet Rock x Legally Bay) 6th LIBERATION (Fastnet Rock x Liberty Rose) 6th RAGGED KEYS (Commands x Boca Chita) Darley 3rd TIARE (Flying Spur x Moorea) 2nd GIULIANI (Manhattan Rain x Sea Eye Pea) Star Thoroughbreds 3rd SHOULDER CHARGE (Big Brown x Shovoff) 5th NAJOOM (Northern Meteor x Charlety Star) Emirates 3rd

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 7 GAI WATERHOUSE WINNERS RECENT WINNERS September was a successful month for the team with winners at Warwick Farm, Moonee Valley, Rosehill, Randwick, Hawkesbury and more. (Photos by Bradley Photography)

DRIEFONTEIN (Fastnet Rock x Follow Gold)

Denise Martin’s Star Thorough- breds Driefontein resumed in the Sharp Sheraco Stakes 1200m at Rosehill on Sep- tember 14. Congratulations to Denise Martin, Jan Tohl, Susan Hardie, Chris Tohl, Le- onie Goodsell, Larry King and Trainer Gai.

ECUADOR (High Chaparral x Bak Da Princess)

Ecuador won first place in the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap at Rosehill. Congratulations to owners David Brook, Graham Fisher, Terry Lillis, George McDonald, Jeff Nugent, Peter Oliver, Stephen Rose, Julie Singleton, Bob Winney.

HIGH GRACE (Flying Spur x Lavender Rise)

High Grace won her Maiden over 1400m at Kembla Grange. Con- gratulations to the Kolivos family, Donna, Alex and Greg and strap- pers Des Fisher and Bapu Brah- mane.

8 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au GAI WATERHOUSE WINNERS

Projectile

(Encosta de Lago x Patasi)

Projectile won the 2000m Handicap at Hawkesbury. Congratulations to breeder Bob Scarborough, and own- ers Greg, Donna and Alex Kolivos.

She’s Bella (Sebring x She’s a Meanie)

She’s Bella won her Maiden at Kembla Grange over 1000m. Congratulations to owners Margaret Butler, Anne McDonnell, Anita McDonnell, Louise McDonnell, Sherryn McCann, Sonia Hook, Christine Brady, Jan and Chris Tohl (Pictured left), Denise Dunphy, Sue Hardie, Jan Henderson and sponsors (Pictured left).

Our Desert Warrior (Desert King x High Heels)

Our Desert Warrior won the Ibis Styles Draw-Moon Festival Handicap at Warwick Farm. Congratulations to owners, G C Diamond, G J Diamond, P Blunden, Mrs L Davies, B Stracey, Mrs P O’Brien, J Jordon, Six Again Racing (M Angelos), Snow Bunnies (A Mckenzie) and strapper Fanny Cypres. www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 9 SPECIAL INTEREST LIVING THE DREAM Gai’s New Racing Club gives everyone a small piece of the action.

Gai’s passion to follow in her father, Tommy Smith’s, footsteps and claim the elusive Melbourne Cup is well documented. Tommy won the cup twice, with Toparoa in 1955 and again in 1981 with Just a Dash. It has escaped his daughter’s grasp narrowly on three occasions; Te Akau Nick in 1993, Nothin’ Leica Dane in 1995 and Fiorente in 2012, all running second in the cup.

In her mission to claim the holy grail of Australian racing, Gai has teamed up with leading racing identity, Bryan Martin OAM to form Gai Living The Dream - an affordable racing club aimed at giving everyday racing fans the opportunity to own a share in elite staying thoroughbreds and ultimately racing towards a start in the world’s richest staying race, the Melbourne Cup.

As opposed to a syndicate, under a club structure, shares in horses are purchased by a company rather than individuals. The club members then, as part of their membership, purchase a share in the company. This therefore allows many shareholders in the company to in-turn own a small share in the horses at a much lower cost than through a syndicate, by sharing the financial burden across a larger number of the company shareholders. This entity has been created under ASIC guidelines.

The club will run over 4 years, giving the team plenty of opportunity to find the right horses who will take members to the winner’s circle in Australia’s best staying events. The horses will be sourced by Gai’s expert bloodstock team including Rob Waterhouse and James Harron, who have been very successful in identifying imported gallopers Fiorente, Glencadam Gold, Julieans and Western Symbol. Robbie himself purchased Descarado as a tried horse from New Zealand who provided Gai with her Caulfield Cup victory in 2010.

The club is designed to raise funds to purchase shares in the horses, to be trained by Gai and raced at the top level with the ultimate aim to return winnings and earnings from sales back to members at the end of the four year period. Full terms and conditions can be found in the Prospectus, which can be downloaded from the website www.gailivingthedream.com.au. The Prospectus must be read and understood before an application for membership is made. “In my forty years of involvement in racing, my greatest joy was to share our champion Fields Of Omagh with so many friends and family,” says Bryan. “That feeling is one that I have always wanted to share with others,” he recalls.

During the conception of Living The Dream, Gai’s desire for the club to be affordable and accessible to everyone was paramount. “This wonderful new initiative is a fantastic way to enable people to become involved in horse racing at a fraction of the usual cost,” Gai says. “Shareholders, across generations and from different backgrounds, will be given the opportunity to experience the thrill and the emotions which coincide with racing one’s own horse.” 10 SPECIAL INTEREST Why Living the Dream?

Gai Living the Dream aims to provide club members with the same benefits as owning a share in a racehorse at an affordable price. The team at Gai Living the Dream want to provide members with information and updates above and beyond what would be expected as a syndicate member.

Gai Living the Dream Pty Ltd will appear in the racebook as the shareholder (not individual names), however it still provides equal bragging rights and owning 100% of the thrill and exhilaration when the horse wins to sharing with a group of equally as enthused winning members. Due to the volume of members, we are able to provide extraordinary content, only provided by very few in the industry due to resources required and expense – which works out to be less than $10 a year per member in the all inclusive fee. The video updates and images Gai with Living The Dream Ambassador, daughter Kate Waterhouse. you will receive, as a club member will be as never before seen in the racing industry. We plan to interview Gai, the jockey, film the horse in trackwork, at home, on arrival to the course, being saddled, the pre and post race footage, we will share members thoughts post race, and get the jockey and most importantly comments from Gai Waterhouse and Bryan Martin from start to finish on the horses’ continued progress.

Gai ’s daughter Kate Waterhouse is the Living the Dream Social Ambassador. Kate will attend as many functions as she can and is the perfect host of any social occasion. We plan to arrange an event for every race meeting where our horses are competing, to ensure all members have an area where we can enjoy the day together as a club. If Gai is on course, she will come to the event and provide pre-race information and post race briefing, as will the jockey. Depending on the venue and race day – the plan is for this room to include food and beverage package for members. This cost will be subsidised where possible.

The Club plans to hold non raceday functions and events at least 6 times a year, most likely more. This will include private member events with Gai – stable visits, and lunches. Winery tours, horse back riding tours, cinema events, theatre, celebration dinners. Fashion shows, private viewings etc. The club will run these events at cost to the members, or subsidise cost to members via discounts or sponsorship.

The main difference between Gai Living the Dream membership and a share in a racehorse of 5% to 100% are raceday entitlements. A racehorse owner is entitled to racecourse admission, members privleges and a mounting yard ticket. We will work with the Australian Race Clubs and principal racing authorities to provide racecourse admission and/or members privileges to race meetings when Gai LTD club horses are competing. This will depend on the meeting and the club where the horse is competing, we cannot make guarantees however we will advocate for the club members.

We plan on an efficient RSVP system to assist us in determining how many members would like to attend each meeting, which also assist the individual clubs in provide for our members on the day. Fiorente parades after his stellar run in the Turnbull Stakes, that promoted him to Melbourne Cup favourite. 11 SPECIAL INTEREST Gai Living the Dream will have mounting yard access for the number of entitlements eligible per horse (example if Gai LTD owns 100% of the horse, the club has access to 100% of the mounting yard tickets), so this would be 20 tickets per horse. We will have a ballot system whereby if you want to attend the races when the horse runs, and want to access the mounting yard – you will be included in the ballot. We will rotate the ballot to ensure everyone has a fair turn. If the club have 10% share of the horse, we will have access to 2 tickets, which will be balloted in the same fashion. For those not lucky enough to draw the mounting yard tickets in the ballot, we will film the jockey and trainer pre race briefing, and post race comments as it happens. We are working on a way to live stream this broadcast directly to members via their smart phones, to the members section on the website or directly into the function room on raceday.

We’re off and running!

On Monday October 7th 2013, at her Flemington stables in Melbourne, Gai, along with Bryan Martin, launched Living The Dream in front of a contingent of the media and invited guests.

All major media outlets and television stations covered the event, with On display, at the Living The Dream media extensive coverage featuring in the news broadcasts of Network Seven, Nine launch, the 2013 Melbourne Cup, with Fields of Omagh’s 2006 Cox Plate, and Efficient’s and Ten, and on ABC. The news was picked up by the major newspapers in 2007 Melbourne Cup. Melbourne and Sydney, with radio interviews following.

“It is the Aussie dream. It’s what we all dream about. There is nothing like this anywhere else in the world. It is Living The Dream,” Gai said. “It’s the most fantastic concept and very affordable and the members have the chance to have a share, albeit small, in a horse running in the Melbourne Cup.”

Managing Director Bryan Martin OAM said “Gai wanted to establish a club for all and it had to be affordable, we are searching the globe for the right horses that can take us to the great races here in Australia and around the world. The emphasis will be on stayers as we have such great prizemoney here for horses who can compete at 2000 metres and beyond.”

All media outlets including ABC, Ch10, Ch7, Ch9, 3AW, Herald Sun were all in attendance for the launch of Gai Living the Dream at Gai Waterhouse’s Flemington stables 12 SPECIAL INTEREST

Gai Waterhouse officially launches Gai Living the Dream with Bryan Martin

Club Membership

To secure your place in Gai Living The Dream, you can choose from a number of flexible payment options:

• One-off up-front payment of $3500 (inc GST) covering your full 4-year membership. Payments may be made online via Credit Card, BPay, or via mail in Cheque.

• Direct Debit payment plan of $96 per month or $48 per fortnight over 4 years. (Total payment over 48 months $4608)

Applications can only be made on the form attached to the Prospectus. For full terms and conditions visit: www.gailivingthedream.com.au Enquiries: (03) 9894 8084

Gai’s signature cupcakes - literally !!

Portrait Photography: Sam D’Agostino (SDP) Living the Dream Media Launch Photography: Sharon Chapman (Fast Track Photography) Tim Patterson (Digital Media Creations)

Copywriting: Bryan Martin & Tanya Fullarton 13 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

(Left to right) David Henderson, Toto Mesiti, Jason McDonnell, Margaret Butler, Paula Screnci, Wendy Mullens, Joseph Screnci, Terry Mullens, Luke Henderson, John McDonnell, John Henderson Pic by Bradley Photographers Bradley Pic by JOHN MCDONNELL Passionate racing fan and successful owner John McDonnell opens up to Zeb Armstrong about his life in racing, his business and some of his favourite racing experiences

an you tell us a little bit about Entire Travel? France is the existing business of French Travel Connection, which most visited country in the world and Tahiti is almost the we purchased on our return from New Zealand. C most beautiful. As we speak, the Billabong Pro surf contest Tahiti is the largest of 118 islands and atolls that is on at Teahupoo in Tahiti and the surf combined with the sunshine comprise French Polynesia. A short ferry ride from and the backdrop of the mountains indeed looks very inviting. Why Tahiti is Tahiti’s sister island, beautiful Moorea. It is a do you specialise in France and Tahiti? Does the French connection 50 minute flight from Tahiti to the stunning island of in Tahiti have something to do with the company’s choice of these Bora Bora and, undoubtedly, the world’s most beauti- two great countries? ful lagoon. Whilst it is renowned as a honeymoon des- tination Bora Bora is also great for the whole family! MCDONNELL: Entire Travel Connection (www.entiretravel.com.au) operates French As for France, what can you say? France is France, Travel Connection and Tahiti Travel Connection as two separate divisions. Both are the and Paris is Paris! It is a wonderfully diverse country largest independent Australian wholesalers to their destinations and recently established to visit and the racing is fantastic, just ask Thomas a strategic alliance with New Zealand’s leading travel retailer. French Travel Connection Huet! was a finalist in the Best Niche Wholesaler category at the recent Australian Federation of Travel Agents Awards. A recent addition to the ‘stable’ is the Spain and Portugal Travel here did your involvement in the Connection. This means that we are now selling to four outstanding destinations. We are Wracing industry start? always looking for new products and our staff travel regularly to the country in which they specialise to ensure they are completely up to date. It is a tough job but someone has to An involvement in racing was something I had do it! Our son, Brad, is the managing director of Entire Travel, Anne is responsible for the wanted to do for a long time but the right moment bulk of the photography in our brochures and I look after the money! only came along six years ago. Anne and I had returned to French Polynesia is an overseas Territory of France and was a natural adjunct to the Australia after living in New Zealand for more than

14 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au IN THE SPOTLIGHT ten years. We had sold our boat, we had a little old he would have thrived over the We first saw Pitcrew when he was a few days spare cash and Anne really encouraged me to mile and maybe beyond. Do you old. We knew then that we wanted him, what do something different this time. I happened think the potential of Sebring that we did not know was just how much we, and a to see a Star Thoroughbreds advertisement, we never saw will be fulfilled by his number of other Sebring owners, would have to rang Denise Martin, bought one share in a progeny who are now winning over pay for him! His unique markings mean that, Rock of Gibraltar filly and the rest is history! a great variety of distances. once seen, he is not forgotten and, hopefully he Even though he was the fifth horse we bought a will carry the flag for his sire for many seasons share in from Denise in 2007, Sebring was our We always believed that Sebring was a freak to to come. I believe that Pitcrew will get over a first starter. When he was eventually beaten by do what he did as a two-year-old and that his wide range of distances and that he will prob- Samantha Miss in the Champagne Stakes, his best was still to come, we even dreamed of a Cox ably be over his best in the 1600-2000m range. sixth start, it was the first time the McDonnell’s Plate! Unfortunately, injury put paid to a three- As Bruce Slade said, “He stands over a lot of experienced a loss as owners! year-old campaign, so we will never know. ground with plenty of leg under him.” I suspect Anne and I decided to “roll the dice” and not Widden is a strong believer in genetic testing that the best race for him this spring may be the sell our shares in Sebring when he was retired. and that testing has shown Sebring to be, most Spring Champion Stakes. He is also nominated It is simply unbelievable that just six years after likely, a fast, middle distance type (1400- for the Golden Rose, Caulfield Guineas and Cox that first phone call to Denise, we now part-own 2400m) horse and it seems that many of his Plate so it is a very exciting time. a successful stallion living in horse heaven at the offspring may well be the same. Obviously we magnificent Widden Stud, numerous race- were over the moon that Sebring had sixteen ow about the Melbourne Cup? horses and have a couple of Sebring foals on individual two-year-old winners in his first sea- HFiorente might just sneak in the ground, also at Widden. To be racing sons son as a sire (matching his own sire, More Than with a nice weight again this year? and daughters of Sebring, especially with fellow Ready) but we are also very excited about what His class has been on show for Sebring owners, is simply living the dream! they may do as three-year-olds. From what I everyone to see and he must be am hearing, it is very likely that he could have a very exciting? ebring only ran as a two-year- Derby runner, this season. S old and was only beaten once, Fiorente has been a surreal experience! The first by an inch in the Champagne itcrew looks to have a stack of time we saw him was when he walked into the Stakes, by Samantha Miss while he Ptalent. At his most recent run mounting enclosure for the Melbourne Cup last was attempting to win the Triple he looked 100-1 to win with 300m year. Crown for two-year-olds. That race to run but he got over the line on Funnily enough, we hardly saw him during the was over a mile and it took a cham- pure heart. Having a horse that running of the Cup as we were concentrating pion filly to get past Sebring. On appears to be the complete package on Glencadam Gold, who led for all but the last this run there is very little doubt must be very exciting. Where do you 200-300m – then we saw the big black horse that had he run on as a three-year- think he will end up this spring? flash home! ▶ Pic by Bradley Photographers

Sebring at Royal Randwick on April 2008.

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 15 IN THE SPOTLIGHT (cont...)

To get Fiorente to the starting line in the retirement. I think every owner would love to hair spiked like Tommy! Anne and our other Melbourne Cup last year, let alone finish sec- have a good, honest horse like our Rain Drum. son, Jason, have great fun with the Facebook ond, was an incredible training feat by Gai. pages for Team McDonnell and Sebring. We His run in the All-Aged was simply unbe- ow about a champion that you do discuss where we want a horse to get to in a lievable and it highlighted his outstanding H have seen and loved watching preparation, but Gai is our trainer and I firmly talent. He is a magnificent specimen and has that you wished you had part of? believe that matter is for her, she knows how it all before him in the spring. Obviously, the I am giving my age away, but I was fortunate the horses are going and where they will do Melbourne Cup will be Fiorente’s main goal enough to have seen Todman and Tulloch! The best. this spring, but I have a feeling he could do very whole family was fortunate enough to be at well in the Cox Plate should Gai choose to run Moonee Valley the day So You Think won his hat are the ones we should him there. first Cox Plate – what a performance! And, at Wkeep a very close eye on? Tulloch Lodge, we have been lucky enough to hat horse is your all-time share in the fun with the owners of Theseo and Fiorente is a class horse who will make Wfavourite that you have been Driefontein. And then there was the mighty his presence felt in any race he contests. involved with and why? Pierro! Glencadam Gold is fit again and should have a very good preparation. The obvious answer is Sebring, he changed nd what about Gai. How would Julienas is ready to show his best and could our lives. In fact, the Team McDonnell colours A you describe your relationship surprise us in a race like the Caulfield Cup. (Purple & White Quarters, Checked Sleeves) with the Lady Trainer? How does Pitcrew we would love to become a Stakes relate directly to Sebring and the famous Star a general discussion go with Gai Winner, for his sire! We also have high hopes for our two-year -olds Cyclone (Sebring x Bella Corona), a filly “The Obvious answer is Sebring, by Sebring x God Love It and a Fastnet Rock x he changed our lives!” Legally Bay filly.

k, now the first answer that O pops into your head! Thoroughbred colours in which he raced. when a horse’s programme is being However, as brilliant as it was, Sebring’s career discussed? Beer or wine? lasted just four months and six races. Wine – red! We have another horse, Rain Drum, a huge, We are in racing for fun and no one makes rac- plain gelding who, because of leg issues, did not ing more fun than Gai! She is the most incred- Stayers or sprinters? start until he was four and then broke down ibly positive person I have ever met. Gai really Stayers. ten months later. In that time Rain Drum had is capable of making a silk purse out of a sow’s ten starts for five wins and five places and gave ear. Gai’s amazing optimism enabled Denise Win bet or each way? all his owners incredible joy and fun. In fact, Martin and her to convince us to buy Sebring Win he won every second start and was a ‘good in the middle of the Equine Influenza outbreak thing beaten’ in last year’s Wagga Gold Cup. which had shut down the racing industry in Golden Slipper or a Cox Plate? Rain Drum recently returned to Randwick NSW. It is Gai’s enthusiasm and personality Cox Plate (Golden Slipper? Won it!!) and, although nowhere near fit, he won a trial that has turned the whole McDonnell family in good time by 4 ¾ lengths with a further 5 into racing ‘tragics’ - even our grandchildren! The Tour De France or the Ashes? ¾ lengths to third place. We have everything Jessie, Zoe and Sam love getting dressed up Tour De France. crossed that he can make it back to the track. and three-year-old Max will not go to the races If not, we shall make sure he has a wonderful without his “nokkies” (binoculars) or having his Thanks John. Good luck in the spring.▣

Bradley Photographers Contact: 02 4868 1433 B The best way to commemorate your win 02 4868 3794 P PO Box 18, Simply register your details and start purchasing online at Moss Vale www.bradleyphotos.com.au NSW 2577

16 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au Artie Schiller A proven sire of 2 & 3YO Group 1 winners worldwide…

Sire of a recent US Grade 1 Sire of a star Group 1 3-Year-Old 2-Year-Old double on Keeneland’s Classic performer with his first crop prestigious Fall Stars weekend… to race in Australia…

MY CONQUESTADORY (damsire Malibu Moon) LASER HAWK (damsire Canny Lad) WON 2013 Alcibiades Stks (Gr.1) at 2-years WON 2012 ATC Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1) at 3-years 3RD 2012 ATC Australian Derby (Gr.1) at 3-years WE MISS ARTIE (damsire Fusaichi Pegasus) WON 2013 Breeders’ Futurity Stks (Gr.1) at 2-years

ADMIN: Kensington 2033. (02) 9662 1255 TREVOR LOBB 0418 240 230 NSW: Murrurundi 2338. (02) 6546 6550 BRYAN CARLSON 0415 275 885 VICTORIA: Diggers Rest 3427. (03) 9746 1444 MIKE BECKER 0412 538 155

www.emiratespark.com.au

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 17 IN THE NEWS

Fiorente Pic by Mark Gatt

18 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au IN THE NEWS

Divine Calling

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t is that time of year again… all the talk On this fine spring day at Moonee Valley, was - in fact he was six lengths last. Yet the colt is about the ‘internationals’ and their Fiorente was indeed the highlight, but it is also somehow finished third and had the race been I Melbourne Cup hopes and ambitions. important to note that while Fiorente won the 50m longer he would have won. This was a Names like Cumani, Weld, De Royer-Dupre, Group Two race, Gai also trained two other marvellous run and a real indication of what Bull Delzangles, Bin Suroor and O’Brien are regularly winners at the meeting; Divine Calling and The Point can do given a straight run to the post. being mentioned in the press. These names need Great Snowman. Gai has of course trained many The anticipation for the Melbourne Cup is to be respected of course, but firstly we need to trebles during her career, but this has to be one always at fever pitch levels this time of year and look at our own Gai Waterhouse who has eleven of the first times the Lady Trainer has trained a it appears in 2013, the Cox Plate is generating entries in the Cup at this stage. treble in Victoria with just three runners at the similar levels of high anticipation. Atlantic Jewel, Gai has imports from both Europe and New meeting. Yes Gai sent three horses to Moonee Puissance De Lune, Super Cool, Fiorente and It’s Zealand, she has home grown stayers and she Valley and all three won. This is a stunning A Dundeel are all up and running and in form. has well performed horses trying to make the training performance and a real boost for the It is shaping up as a vintage Cox Plate and this is next step - and of course, Gai has Fiorente. The stable heading towards to the enormous spring exactly what the carnival needs. Atlantic Jewel way Fiorente ‘came from the clouds’ to win the riches. Rockford, has also won a good race in remains the favourite and it will indeed be very Group Two Dato at the Valley on September 14 Melbourne for Gai and at the time of print, exciting to see her against the other best horses was reminiscent of the immortal Bernborough, Divine Calling had just won the Group Two Stutt in Australia at the Classic distance of 2040m. arguably the fastest finishing horse in Australian Stakes at Moonee Valley. The Melbourne stable It has been a wonderful month for Gai racing history. Some hardened racing folk who is absolutely flying for Gai at the minute and Waterhouse Racing with winners in both NSW were discussing Fiorente’s win within hearing there is no reason at all to suggest the roll will not and Victoria and several very impressive Stakes distance of the author of this article, were think- continue. and Group winners. With a touch of luck the ing of changing the racetrack term from ‘finish- momentum the stable has gathered in recent ing like Bernborough’ to ‘finishing like Fiorente’. he Golden Rose has been run and won weeks will continue towards the Cox Plate and Fiorente again showed his wonderful turn of foot and the impressive colt Zoustar came the Cups. at Flemington in the Turnbull where he came T from near last to record a most impres- There are very exciting times ahead for Gai and from near last at the 300m to just miss out on sive victory. He came from near last, but not the entire Australian racing industry. Good luck another stunning win. last, because the Waterhouse trained Bull Point to all. ▣

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 19 SPECIAL INTEREST

n a quiet street in Sydney’s iconic Paddington, tucked away among the O likes of Watson & Watson and White Suede, lies milliner Neil Grigg’s studio. With his flamboyant nature, Neil gestures, in the sweep of a curve with brightly coloured flowers, bows and feathers, seeing the images and shapes of hats he can make. Neil says of millinery, “It is interesting where your stimulus comes from. You will be working on a particular show perhaps based on the Egyptians, then, all of a sudden you will notice this season’s hats have an Egyptian theme to them.” When looking to begin a new season’s range Neil is an admirer of European trends and styles in fashion, but it really all comes down to the fabric and material and the creativity that is ignited when he sees certain materials together. Neil, who has been a milliner for over thirty years, found his passion for millinery take form during university whilst studying as a drama teacher. Neil still remembers the first hat he ever made while dancing for the Sydney Dance Company. He sourced feathers by undoing a feather duster and sewing each individual feather on by hand. Nowadays there are all sorts of ingredients you can buy to achieve that look, and he kept that hat for a very long time. “From there it just became a real fascination, whenever there were hats to be made I put my hand up.” When Neil stopped dancing he re- trained as a theatre milliner with a lady called BEHIND THE VEIL: Betty Viazim. To this day Neil speaks very WITH NEIL GRIGG Renowned for his endless imagination and enchanting craftsmanship, Neil Grigg, invites us in for a closer look into his sensual world of fashion and the fabulous

By Madison Whant

20 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au SPECIAL INTEREST

highly of his former teacher, “She was amazing. Mary of Denmark, Jennifer Hawkins and of She was in her 70’s when I first started working course, our very own Gai Waterhouse. with her. It was a marvellous time, and from The Neil and Gai duo came to be around six there it just grew.” years ago with Gai’s request for a hat to wear At the back of his studio, through older style to the David Jones Gay charity race day. From double glass doors lies a workroom where there he designed a hat she wore to Royal Neil sits on a swivel chair and selects from Ascot, and, “the rest,” as he says, “is history.” the cluttered array of silks and string, seams Sometimes Gai will give him as little as three and materials, feathers, flowers, blocks, glue, days notice and Neil, the professional that he is, scissors, beads, trims, ribbon and countless will create a fabulous piece for her. Describing other ingredients, a red bowl shape in which he his work for Gai, Neil feels “It really is a col- begins to sew a white band around the inside. laboration..... Gai has been racing and dressing “It is a little shape, a little hat I am making for up for a long time, she has very strong ideas a lady who is a photographer,” He says, “She for herself and she isn’t scared of hats. She wants to photograph little babies in it for her knows hats.” Good customers are like that in Christmas book.” the world of millinery. Neil goes on to explain Neil goes on to explain the wide variety of the importance of confidence when donning a requests he receives from his clients: hats for hat. You can certainly aspire to a certain look the theatre and hats for the races, but also hats in a hat but a person might be tall or short, for a particular outfit bought in Paris or Milan big or small, square, long or round faced, and

It is wonderful to make something that“ is just exactly right for that per- person wearing it is not a stand for the hat. A son and that outfit. And that has hat is there to enhance, to make your face look beautiful.” been the fun thing with Gai...... On the cusp of yet another Melbourne Cup, ” Neil predicts strong colours will be fabulous this year, with lots of exciting creativity in hand- made silk flowers and feather arrangements. When asked what we can expect from him for or from anywhere in the world. When Neil “so within those parameters it is wonderful to Melbourne Spring Carnival time, Neil replied, began millinery he sold his first hat creations at make something that is just exactly right for “Well, less is rarely more.....” Without a doubt the markets for around $12 each. Now his hat that person and that outfit. And that,” he says, we can expect some very exciting and glamor- prices commence from $500. “Has been the fun thing with Gai. She is an ous hats to be on display at the biggest day in eil’s extraordinary work is sought after interesting lady to work with.” Australian racing. ▣ from all ends of the spectrum. His cli- Neil himself loves to create some “mad and ents vary. He designs hats for theatre wonderful, gorgeous things,” but prefers to Address: 40 William Street, Paddington NSW N keep in mind milliner Bessie Viazim’s favourite 2011, Australia productions such as Miss Saigon, 42nd Street and Les Miserables, to hats for Crown Princess saying “A hat should always frame the face, the Contact: 02 9361 5865

BEHIND THE VEIL:

TOP RIGHT Gai and Niel Grigg

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 21 IN THE NEWS FUTURE FORECASTS COSMIC ENDEAVOUR (NORTHERN METEOR X CREVETTE) LOOKS FORWARD TO SPRING

osmic Endeavour (Northern beat her were Overreach and Sweet Idea, Hapten Stakes, a race that traditionally Meteor x Crevette) is back in work two fillies that won and placed in the 2013 opens Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm. C and the filly is flying. Golden Slipper respectively. Cosmic Endeavour performed well, lead- In May, the daughter of Northern Meteor ing the field up before the Group winning made her debut in a two-year-old maiden his was the first indication of the Missy Longstocking eventually got past for fillies. talent Cosmic Endeavour pos- her in the last 100m. From barrier 14 of 14, Nash Rawiller Tsessed. Only very few two-year- The trip to Brisbane has done wonders urged Cosmic Endeavour to the lead after olds make it to the early juvenile races; Gai for Cosmic Endeavour and she is now jumping, and in a remarkable display regularly details that her Golden Slipper down in Melbourne and has had a race of speed, the filly kept getting further horses are always up and running by Cox at Moonee Valley where she performed and further ahead before winning by 3.5 Plate time the previous year and Cosmic nicely. She has learnt to handle the travel lengths. With around 200m to run Nash Endeavour was no exception. However the and this is a great trait for a young horse was so far ahead and still had so much filly needed to mature, to grow and fatten to have. The filly together with all of her horse under him, that he simply let Cosmic up a little and as such she was spelled stablemates at fabulous Flemington, are Endeavour coast to the line with the great- before making her comeback to the track thriving in the Victorian air and the results est of ease. The race was won with as much in early April 2013. are showing. in hand as one could ever imagine, espe- From the start of April right up to her Cosmic Endeavour will be ideally suited cially in a metropolitan race and especially debut in mid-May, Cosmic Endeavour con- in some of the races over the next six with a $6 chance as Cosmic Endeavour tinued to improve in both her trackwork weeks in Melbourne. She has magnificent was on this autumn day. and her trials. In the daily Gai Waterhouse speed, plenty of endurance and a lot of On October 5 2012, a time of year when Racing trackwork reports, the track riders class to go with her stunning good looks. the Maribyrnong Plate, Breeders’ Plate were as one in their praise of the filly, and Cosmic Endeavour belongs on page one and Gimcrack Stakes two-year-olds are then we all saw what she did on debut. of everyone’s black book and she is set starting to get ready, Cosmic Endeavour After her stunning debut win, Cosmic and primed to again show her best on the ran a brilliant 3rd in a star studded Endeavour was thrown straight in the deep biggest stage in Australian racing... the trial. It just so happens the two fillies that end and sent to Brisbane to run in a Listed Melbourne spring. ▣

Trainer Gai, jockey Nash Rawiller, attendant Ed Bradley and Racing Manager Mark Newnham with Cosmic Endeavour. Pic by Bradley Photographers Bradley Pic by

22 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH LAW (DENMAN X LADY CAT) WINS THE BREEDERS’ PLATE

tar Thoroughbreds Law (Denman very own Pierro. Pierro, like Luskin Star won x Lady Cat) won the time honoured the Breeders’ Plate at his first start and surely S Breeders’ Plate at Randwick on 5 we all remember Gai’s call after the race that October 2013 and due to the historical signifi- Pierro would come back in the autumn and win cance of the win, Law is The Performance of the the Golden Slipper? The Breeders’ Plate has also Month winner for this issue of Gai’s Gazette. recently been won by, now super sires, Snitzel for Gai, was rewarded with the ride on the colt The Breeders’ Plate has been run for two- and Choisir, as well as Star Thoroughbreds and he did not disappoint, producing a perfect year-olds since 1906 and more often than not Sebring who is really starting to make his mark ride that demonstrated the confidence and faith the winner of the five furlong race has gone at stud. that the young hoop had in his mount. Tim on to become a very good two-year-old in the bounced Law straight to the front after a nice autumn and on many occasions, an out and out aw’s win in the race this year makes it break, and from here the Group One winning star of the turf. The race has been won by the two wins in a row in the race for Star jockey balanced the colt perfectly and was never likes of Sky High and Baguette who both went LThoroughbreds and with Pierro in in danger of being beaten. on to become all-time greats as older horses as 2011, Law’s win makes it three in a row for Congratulations to Star Thoroughbreds and well as dominant forces as two-year-olds. The Gai Waterhouse Racing. As mentioned, Star all the owners (both the new owners and the coal fields flier Luskin Star won the race by 12 Thoroughbreds together with the Lady Trainer existing owners) of this magnificently talented lengths in the spring of 1976 before coming back also won the race with Sebring in 2008 thus colt. All the Gai Waterhouse trained winners in the autumn and dominating the two-year- making it three winners in six years for Star of the Breeders’ Plate since Sebring have gone old races like very few horses before him or Thoroughbreds. on to win (at a minimum) a feature race in after him ever have. Perhaps the only horse to Law is a very handsome colt by first season sire the autumn as a two-year-old. The future is dominate the juvenile races in Sydney in the Denman. In the Breeders’ Plate at Randwick, extremely bright for Law and it is very exciting autumn to the level that Luskin Star did was our Tim Clark who has been doing plenty of work for everyone involved. ▣ Pic by Bradley Photographers

Jockey Tim Clark on Law

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 23 SPECIAL INTEREST THE WATERED TRACK GOOD INTENTIONS DEBATE BAD RESULTS

“THE MISGUIDED MOVE TO PRODUCE SOFTER TRACKS”

By Rob Waterhouse

y good wife, Gai, has asked me to extra prize money?” Not one would say they write something on track prepara- False arguments would. Gai and I recently visited a meeting at Mtion. for a softer track Agua Caliente in Mexico. Prize money is not There is a misguided move, I understand, shown in the race book because it is calculated to have the Australian Racing Board produce as a proportion of the “handle”. Were that Kinder to horses? guidelines to curators having them produce, done transparently here, connections would Well, horses don’t actually “like” affected no better than, ‘dead’ tracks. demand firm tracks! tracks. It is a fallacy to say they do. They are There is a wide-spread, but false, belief that Moreover, a recent study of Australian run- reluctant to stretch out as they do on fast/ tracks should never be produced firmer than ners (1992 to 2005) shows clearly, horses with good tracks. The best ‘mud lark’, of course, dead. I say this is a dangerous misapprehen- a high number of career starts have a higher runs slower times on affected ground - he just sion. percentage of dry track starts. Dry track horses dislikes it less than others. A policy of aiming all tracks to be no bet- last longer.

ter than dead would be a big mistake and A more sustainable product? adversely affect all in the industry. Produces bigger fields? My wife, Gai, says: “My horses are more likely At the outset, dare I say, horse racing must be In another study (1995 to now in Victoria, to break down on affected tracks than dry. It is the only industry where the customer seems See table 1.0 next page), field sizes have been a myth that softer tracks are kinder to horses. to be totally ignored? I’m not sure the industry bigger when the tracks were fast and good as They only race for a minute or two but soft even see punters as “everyone in racing’s” customers. For most, it seems as though racing exists in spite of punters, rather than because of them. Only racing could not realise its For the customers, the punters, they love fast and good tracks. They hate, in particular ‘dead’ only“ ‘customers’ are punters..... tracks. What’s more, they show it clearly in ” their betting, which translates directly to racing revenue. They bet much less when the tracks are ‘affected’. Less goes to racing. tracks can wreak havoc with them. I hate these against dead, slow and heavy. In any other businesses, shareholders would over-watered tracks” Correspondent, Len Loveday has pointed out sack any management who refused to sell the A vet of Gai’s says: “You could expect more to me that, contrary to what they seem to say, business’s best product. fetlock hyper extension injuries like tendon trainers and owners are more likely to scratch A move toward softer tracks is, like the “road injuries, avulsion injuries of sesamoids etc. on runners in affected going. From a vast sample, to hell”, “paved with good intentions”. Their soft.” 10.56% of runners are withdrawn. From his argument is that softer tracks: Leading trainer John Hawkes said a few figures, the pattern is stark: years ago, when asked about the issue: “I • Are kinder to the horses agree, I do not like the water policy and prefer Percentage of acceptors scratched • Produce a more sustainable product firmer tracks.” Overall 10.56% (by not breaking down horses) I recognise some trainers “think” they like the Fast 8.73% • Produce bigger fields affected tracks (but see top of next page). Were Good 9.30% • Are fairer to owners they asked: “Would you prefer to race on the Dead 10.84% current softer tracks for the current prize Slow 14.44% But I say these arguments are fallacious. money or on firmer tracks for 10% or 20% Heavy 19.16%

24 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au SPECIAL INTEREST TABLE 1.0 Races to now.

Summer - October to Average field size Average field size Average field size March (COUNTRY) (PROVINCIAL) (CITY) 137,867 races (1995 to now) HSD 9.31 10.35 9.80 GF 9.61 10.86 10.45 Winter - April to September 135,229 races (1995 to now) HSD 10.49 11.29 11.14 GF 9.66 11.47 11.32

TABLE 1.1 % Average turnover impact by track condition - FY07 (Compared to Good)

DOW REGION GOOD DEAD SLOW HEAVY KEY FOR TABLES SATURDAY NSW - Metro 0.00 % -00.4 % -17.3 % -20.7 % VIC - Metro 0.00 % -24.4 % -15.5 % -32.5 % OTHER DAYS NSW - Metro 0.00 % -09.0 % -00.3 % -20.6 % HSD = Heavy/Slow/Dead QLD - Metro 0.00 % -14.2 % -12.0 % -33.4 % GF = Good/Fast VIC - Metro 0.00 % -26.0 % -21.2 % -21.7 % ALL NSW - Country 0.00 % -01.8 % -11.9 % -02.3 % DOW = Day of the week NSW - Provincial 0.00 % -14.2 % -13.8 % -26.4 % QLD - Country 0.00 % -00.9 % -18.0 % -23.0 % VIC - Country 0.00 % -06.4 % -03.7 % -16.0 % TOTAL VIC/NSW/QLD 0.00 % -06.2 % -09.6 % -08.2 %

*Note : Good Track used as Base Impact of 0.0% Additionally, the trainers who are in favour of turnover falls once a track is dead or There would be no difficulty finding floggers. softer tracks, as a group, are the biggest scratch- worse. Punters won’t bet as freely on It is noteworthy in the UK, when there is pro- ers. One prominent Randwick trainer (who affected tracks. My first-hand experience prietary racing, course curators are sacked by says he hates firm tracks) scratches 30% of his is echoed by all bookmakers. track owners if they produce what punters hate runners on dead, 46% on slow and 76% on • Professional punting syndicates bet as – biased tracks. They know it attacks turnover heavy! By contrast, Gai tries to run everything. much as possible, based on models with and their profits. Her scratching rate is constantly under 5%, a view to maximising profit. These mod- whatever the going. els typically reduce the turnover by about Breeding 20 per cent on affected tracks because There is no doubt the famous hard and tough Fairer to owners? firstly, the public turnover is smaller Australian breed is disadvantaged by the policy I speak from personal experience, I regularly and secondly, the randomness makes it and a less robust type is encouraged. It will have hear Gai trying to convince owners to let their harder to find value. The senior partner a long term impact. horses start when the going is affected. They of the world’s largest punting syndicate hate wet tracks for “their” horse. told me they adopt this exact strategy. Blandness • Every punter I know dislikes dead and Denying racing of fast(1) and good(2) tracks Arguments slow tracks. They know these goings are robs racing of its diversity. more random. Only Racing could not against watering realise its only ‘customers’ are punters Cost of implementation and force on them what they don’t want. The cost implementing the softer track policy tracks • TAB Corp produced table 1.1 above. It runs into millions of dollars. shows how much less is bet with TAB • Diminishes betting turnover markedly Corp on affected tracks. Integrity and consequently reduces revenue to the Of course, this drop in turnover causes a bigger The results of races are very much affected by industry drop in available prize money. the policy and it must damage racing’s reputa- • Creates tracks punters are reluctant to tion. bet on Creates biased tracks Pity help the owner of a horse ‘best on firm • Creates biased tracks which undermine It is generally recognised that watering creates going’, as he never gets a turn. Interestingly, I punters’ confidence biases. The fence is often worse because of say it is a clear lack of honesty in that very few • Is a disadvantage to breeders of tough natural drainage. Irrigation inhibits root growth tracks are described as Fast 1s, Good 2s or breeding stock so parts of tracks give way. There are countless Heavy 10s, even though many actually are, • Makes racing bland instances of biased tracks from watering. according to my figures. • Undermines the integrity of racing The casino laws make it a jailable offence to • Is a large cost burden to the industry create a bias in, say, a roulette wheel. I, for one, Feedback would support severe sanctions against course I’d be delighted to correspond with anyone Diminishes betting turnover curators who create biased tracks. Perhaps a who takes issue with me. Happy to provide full • With my bookmaking business, my public flogging in the betting ring after the last? statistics. [email protected]. ▣

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 25 EDITORIAL MONTY ROBERTS Award-winning horse trainer Monty Roberts, takes some time out of his globe-trotting career to visit Gai and Tulloch Lodge. Emma Pearce spoke with him.....

Photographs by Need for Steed Aus

Monty working with Allsburg Pics by Need for Steed Aus Pics by

orses are universally loved as animals, their horses in order to become partners with human beings. majestic nature and beauty intrigues a huge percentage of people from royalty to the average hat skills do you find you use the most when it punter.H What is the most rewarding part of your work W comes to helping a troublesome horse? with horses? You have to have within your grasp, when it comes to working with Monty Roberts: To watch horses get better, to meet their needs and troubled horses, patience, non violence and observation. Watch your watch them get happy and to cause them to want to do their work instead of horse, listen to your horse and then find what your horse needs. Then force them to do it. That is the most gratifying thing about my work. I would try to meet those needs. That’s the critical issue. Horses were doing love it if the most gratifying thing was to work with the people involved in fine for 47 million years before there were ever human beings on it, but often times you find them to be far more complicated and difficult earth, so it is not their problems it is our problems that we have to deal than the horses are. So you work with the people to try to get them to meet with. the needs of the horses, because if you do your work like I do, you will find the horses are generally the easy part. You can fall in love with them awfully n Australia we take a huge interest in American quick but it’s the people that need to change to make the difference in the I Racing, especially the Breeders’ Cup races and the

26 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au EDITORIAL

Triple Crown for three-year-olds. distribute across the horses spine, how much would come here, I think they would be How is Australian racing viewed by balance do you have in the saddle so that the completely bogged down in the enormity the bigger trainers in America? horse has the easiest possible time in carrying of it at first. We could learn a lot in America your weight? All of those things are calculable about keeping racing vital and keeping the Australian racing is exotic to the trainers of in physics and I think Shoemaker was the young people coming to the races and causing America, they closest one to the bottom line physics of it all. the culture of our country to be more excited don’t know much about it and it’s often a dis- The back of the scene elements of Australian about racing. tant land, but with recent global TV and HR racing are still vastly behind the rest of the It is going the other way for us while in TV they are bringing us racing from all over world, and that is why I am here, to try and Australia it is still exciting to go to the races the world. So racing in Australia is becoming bring a better understanding of meeting the and you do have a much younger audience better known, especially in the last few years. I horses needs psychologically during the day to than we attract in the United States. went on HR TV about five years ago and since day handling of the horse. There are so many that time we’ve seen a lot more from various things here that are just as advanced as any- tracks in Australia. where in the world. I am finding the valuable an you think of one of your all- I think you will see a more homogeneous things that Australian racing has to offer and C time favourite stories of when look to the riders than you will ever see in past I’m finding the things that I think they could you have helped a horse that may racing. You could always tell an Australian improve upon, because the Queen has asked have had very little future before rider when they came to America, they were me to do that. you stepped in? very different. Even the English were different and you see this coming together now. n your travels over the years, The two horses certainly are Alleged and Frankie Dettori is the one that has taken I how would you compare Lomitus. Alleged was a complicated indi- American style riding to Europe and Australia Australian racing with American vidual. He could be aggressive and difficult is getting closer to what I call, the ‘Bill racing? to train but on the other hand if you met his Shoemaker look’. He is the one that got his needs he was a wonderful athlete of world irons up really high and rode up the horses Well there is no comparison really, I mean, class dimension, he won the Arc De Triomphe neck and stayed down low without all that they are so vastly different. When you see 60 two years in a row. swinging around like you saw in England to 70 head of horses brought out and tied in But Lomitus is probably my all-time favou- and Australia. There is a far greater coming single tie stalls to be ridden so that you can rite racehorse because he was banned from together. finish 180 horses in less than four hours of racing. I mean he couldn’t go anywhere in the It is purely mathematics, I mean, how much training, it is totally different from America. world, he was really sentenced to death for his air do you stop, how much weight do you On the other hand, if American trainers atrocious behaviour at the starting stalls. Yet ▶

Monty and Gai discussing his techniques

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 27 EDITORIAL (cont...)

he had the talent to be, obviously, the champion through your best selling books and Carlton House’s challenges at the starting that he turned out to be. He went from no value films, but now Gai Waterhouse has stalls in my opinion are extremely minimal. I at all to just ten days after I met him winning a called upon your expertise to assist find him to be as good a student as you could race and had a value of 20 or 30 million euros. with a magnificent entire that is ever work with. He is uncomplicated and Now, his son Silvano is in the Stallion owned by the world’s most famous extremely cooperative. He’s really got a good Honours in South Africa. These kids that are racing enthusiast. How have you mind, he is happy to be your partner. All you running Silvano’s babies have, I think, seven found Carlton House in your time at have to do is show him what you want and he Group One winners this year. How good does Tulloch Lodge? tries to do it. I’m in love with him as a student. that get? Silvano wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t fixed Lomitus. I bought his mother Spirit of Eagles First of all I am proud to be here with Gai and ave you helped many horses H owned by Her Majesty the Queen during your career? All you have to do is show My word, going back to 1989 it is hundreds of “[Cartlon House] what you want horses and they are principally thoroughbred racing horses but also national hunt horses, and he tries to do it. I’m in love cavalry horses, coach horses, drum horses - horses that go in the parades of London - and with him as a student. even polo ponies. ” Virtually every discipline on this earth is represented in the Queen’s stables and I’ve worked with probably at least one horse from each discipline. I’ve been doing quite a lot of work with polo to breed to Lomitus because of durability her team, it is an amazing situation and we just horses in recent months and also a lot of thor- and speed. She produced Sabiango as well as don’t see anything like this in the States. oughbred racehorses. Silvano and the pair won Group One races in I was told this morning that there is over 150 I start all of the babies each fall (autumn) and the same week. I don’t think any mare has ever horses that go to work each day from these I also start working with them from when they produced offspring which have done that, so stables and that they are finished by eight are just weaned from their mothers. that is a piece of history. o’clock in the morning. If you told a trainer that ▣ in the United States he’d say you were making our techniques are famous it up. It’s unbelievable. It really is a dynasty and *Emma Pearce with Monty Roberts on his Yworld wide and well-known this woman is an absolute legend. time at Tulloch Lodge.

Ryan Pendergast practising Monty’s techniques Pic by Need for Steed Aus Pic by

28 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au EQUINE HEALTH THE PHYSIO FILES Tom Simpson is a qualified animal physiotherapist with nine years of human clinical experience and seven years of equine clinical experience

What is Equine Physiotherapy? Tom Simpson Equine Physiotherapy is a two year Masters Degree available to qualified Human with recently Physiotherapists with a minimum of two years retired Reuben clinical experience and a high level of knowl- edge of animals and animal handling. Percival

My role at Gai Waterhouse Racing

I am in the very fortunate position of working closely with trainer Gai Waterhouse, Dr Leanne

Begg, and appropriate foreman and track rid- Pic by Need for Steed Aus ers to attain information regarding individual horses. I am exposed to a wide variety of inju- ries every day and have a huge responsibility in ensuring that the injuries appropriate for phys- iotherapy are treated and managed correctly so Tom Simspon with that training is not reduced or missed and more importantly horses can perform at their peak. Order of the Sun

How does Physiotherapy benefit a horse? But horses can’t talk??? palpation skills and regularly speaking Well they certainly let you know what to the people who know the animal well. Physiotherapy treatment is an integral part feels good and what is painful! This point This enables you to put all the information of any professional sporting association. This highlights the importance of gait assessment together and direct your treatment appro- involves treatment of acute injuries and just as (with and without the saddle), effective priately from this point. important day to day general maintenance of ▣ athletes to ensure optimal performance at each event and on a weekly basis. Any elite human Some injuries that are common on the race track in athlete competing at the highest level would receive physiotherapy for the management of which physiotherapy can benefit. injuries. Musculoskeletal condi- Neurological conditions So why then is it a foreign con- tions including: including: cept to apply it to your horse who is indeed an elite equine - Muscle tears, injuries, sore- - Nerve related Injuries; athlete? ness, muscle shortening and trauma, loss of function weakness - Pathology involving ataxia, Anatomically (that is the muscles and joints) - Back pain, neck pain, hind loss of proprioception, hyper/ you would be surprised to hear that we are limb pain hypometric gait abnormalities - Pelvic pathology (sacro- very similar to horses, with a few obvious iliac joint disease, sacroiliac differences! Therefore using the same treat- ligament desmitis, movement ment principles we can apply physiotherapy to asymmetry, muscle imbalance horses. and more)

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 29 2013 Subs leaflet_Layout 1 21/06/13 11:29 AM Page 1 Breeding Bluebloods_Layout 1 17/09/13 2:16 PM Page 1

IN THE NEWS

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854007 BREEDING BLUEBLOODS 9 771835 month in Bluebloods magazine! “Look back into your mighty ancestors” Shakespeare, Henry V. Our experts share their knowledge in every issue, by Andrew Reichard all you have to do is subscribe.

T : STEVE HAR rsonality Profile ● Pe O HARD Subscribe for just $220 and save over retail price, LL TO Pierro COON n Profile: A EN TY ● Stallio WRITT r 2013 STANDING AT SIRES fo K ● NEW E PAR Lonhro-Miss Right Note (IRE) by Daylami) OODSID ( W PLUS receive all our BONUS publications FREE. Our team of expert writers and analysts share their knowledge every industry leading methods of analysis and between them have been month in Bluebloods magazine. Trade secrets are closely guarded in awarded many of the breeding industry’s highest honours and accolades. most industries, but we offer you access to Personality Profiles, Stallion Our principal data supplier is ARION PEDIGREES who prepare all Profiles, Sales Previews, Sales Reviews, Stakes Results, Pedigree the catalogues for major sales in Australia and New Zealand as well Analysis and Interviews with industry leaders in a clear and easy to as tailoring bespoke reports for our publication and leading breeders understand format. worldwide. This allows us to present the most informative sales analysis Our regular and occasional contributors include Brian Russell, and stakes results section for your benefit. Jennifer Churchill, David Bay, Les Young, Jeff Sagar, Alan Porter, Gary By subscribing to Bluebloods you can have easy access to all this Crispe, Michael Ford, Paul Vettise, Susan Archer, Mark Latham, Bill information and to all the secrets of the breeding industry. Oppenheim, Roger Lyons and Peter Jenkins. Subscribers save a lot of money and never miss a bonus issue! They are recognised in Australia and internationally for Bluebloods is published every month with a retail cover price their authoritative views. They have bred and raced G1 winners, of $20 at newsagencies, but the bonus issues are NOT have planned matings for the world’s leading breeders, have developed available except by subscription.

But there’s more! We also publish a number of BONUS ISSUES each year which include a Magic Millions Preview, a Karaka Preview, an Inglis Easter Preview, a NZ Sires feature, BONUS a MAJOR SALES Analysis and a YEARLING BUYERS’ GUIDE. That’s SIX bonus issues (value $120) plus our famous annual STALLIONS register (value $175).

None of these BONUS PUBLICATIONS are available for retail sale, they are mailed EXCLUSIVE FREE exclusively to BLUEBLOODS subscribers. All included for the one only price ith this invocation to King Henry, The opportunity to distribute Gai’s Gazette understanding of the pedigree business of $220 anywhere in Australia or NZ. his courtiers might equally well to all subscribers of BLUEBLOODS magazine which is a prerequisite for making mating Whave been thoroughbred pedigree was warmly welcomed, the opportunity to decisions for mares, it will also be well worth analysts. The study of pedigrees is not the contribute a regular column was too examining the pedigrees of some of the Subscribe for 12 months and you will receive 12 monthly magazines PLUS 6 bonus issues FREE arcane pursuit that many would like you to tempting to resist. Many of Gai’s owners are leading commercial stallions available. VALU E PLUS a STALLIONS register. That’s 19 publications for the one price. Stallion believe but at its best, a commonsense already very active in the breeding industry, The past decade or so has been a register approach to assist in the understanding and many more will inevitably become interested particularly productive one for Gai as a enjoyment of this great sport. as their fillies and mares retire from the “sire maker”. Horses Gai has trained to major Subscribe now to Bluebloods - pay only $220 racetrack to the broodmare paddock, or if Before I begin (if such a thing is possible) racetrack excess that have gone on to stud they are very lucky, if their stallion prospects careers include Al Maher (Emirates Park), let me take this opportunity to congratulate find a home at stud. A basic knowledge of Dreamscape (Widden Stud), Manhattan Rain ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES (in Australian Dollars) Important: you must TICK ONE of the three boxes below Gai and her team on the publication of “Gai’s pedigrees goes a long way to making this (Arrowfield), Mutawaajid (Emirates Park), Gazette.” She has always been the epitome of second stage of a thoroughbred’s career as Northern Meteor (Widden), Nothin’ Leica All Australian States (inc. GST) ... $220.00 Air Mail to New Zealand... A$220.00 Air Mail to other countries .. A$399.00 the communicator, promoter and publicist interesting and exciting as the first. It can Dane (Cangon Stud Farm), Pierro for racing and breeding, this latest venture also help give an understanding of why (Coolmore), Sebring (Widden), Squamosa into print being another in the long list of certain breeds of horses perform in the (Eliza Park), and Strada (Riverdene Stud). Name ...... ways in which Gai has gone out of her way manner they do, what their distance What a list! Already enough material for Address ...... to communicate with her clients. Along the limitations are, what their commercial value most of the year...... Post Code ...... journey she has embraced many ideas that might be and other related factors. To find out what they did, how they did it, make racing and breeding mare Due to the large number of high achievers why it happened that way, how they are Telephone number ...... Email address ...... understandable and enjoyable, whether the Gai has trained in recent years, a good many performing at stud, or for the newbies what ideas come from her team or from contacts of these columns will be devoted to an we can reasonably expect, we will look into she has within the industry. From personal examination of horses that are currently in their bloodlines. We will look into their I enclose Cheque Bank Draft for A$...... experience, I can attest to Gai’s eagerness to Gai’s stable, or have recently retired to stud. mighty ancestors, starting with champion help spread a little sunshine, even if the first There will be no shortage of material. colt and Golden Slipper winner Pierro Please charge my Mastercard Visa Card rays aren’t always going to land on her. However, in order to assist with a broader next month. I Name on card ...... Signature ...... Expiry ...... This article is presented by exclusive arrangement with Complete and post coupon together with your subscription payment to: BLUEBLOODS, PO Box 286, Richmond, NSW 2753 Australia. Bluebloods magazine Ph: 02 4587 8110. Fax 02 4587 8145. E: [email protected] or subscribe on-line at www.bluebloods.com.au For more information visit bluebloods.com.au

30 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 2013 Subs leaflet_Layout 1 21/06/13 11:29 AM Page 1

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854007 9 771835 month in Bluebloods magazine!

Our experts share their knowledge in every issue, all you have to do is subscribe.

T : STEVE HAR rsonality Profile ● Pe O HARD Subscribe for just $220 and save over retail price, LL TO COON n Profile: A EN TY ● Stallio WRITT r 2013 STANDING AT SIRES fo K ● NEW E PAR WOODSID PLUS receive all our BONUS publications FREE. Our team of expert writers and analysts share their knowledge every industry leading methods of analysis and between them have been month in Bluebloods magazine. Trade secrets are closely guarded in awarded many of the breeding industry’s highest honours and accolades. most industries, but we offer you access to Personality Profiles, Stallion Our principal data supplier is ARION PEDIGREES who prepare all Profiles, Sales Previews, Sales Reviews, Stakes Results, Pedigree the catalogues for major sales in Australia and New Zealand as well Analysis and Interviews with industry leaders in a clear and easy to as tailoring bespoke reports for our publication and leading breeders understand format. worldwide. This allows us to present the most informative sales analysis Our regular and occasional contributors include Brian Russell, and stakes results section for your benefit. Jennifer Churchill, David Bay, Les Young, Jeff Sagar, Alan Porter, Gary By subscribing to Bluebloods you can have easy access to all this Crispe, Michael Ford, Paul Vettise, Susan Archer, Mark Latham, Bill information and to all the secrets of the breeding industry. Oppenheim, Roger Lyons and Peter Jenkins. Subscribers save a lot of money and never miss a bonus issue! They are recognised in Australia and internationally for Bluebloods is published every month with a retail cover price their authoritative views. They have bred and raced G1 winners, of $20 at newsagencies, but the bonus issues are NOT have planned matings for the world’s leading breeders, have developed available except by subscription.

But there’s more! We also publish a number of BONUS ISSUES each year which include a Magic Millions Preview, a Karaka Preview, an Inglis Easter Preview, a NZ Sires feature, BONUS a MAJOR SALES Analysis and a YEARLING BUYERS’ GUIDE. That’s SIX bonus issues (value $120) plus our famous annual STALLIONS register (value $175).

None of these BONUS PUBLICATIONS are available for retail sale, they are mailed EXCLUSIVE FREE exclusively to BLUEBLOODS subscribers. All included for the one only price of $220 anywhere in Australia or NZ.

Subscribe for 12 months and you will receive 12 monthly magazines PLUS 6 bonus issues FREE VALU E PLUS a STALLIONS register. That’s 19 publications for the one price. Stallion register Subscribe now to Bluebloods - pay only $220

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www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 31 BEHIND THE SCENES STEVE O’’’ HALLORAN

Stable Foreman Steve O’Halloran talks about life as a foreman, the future, and his love of racing

By Madison Whant

irst of all, congratulations on your recent marriage. visa which was a great help. How does it feel to come back to 3am starts after a nice big holiday with your new wife? ou are a former apprentice jockey from Ireland, F Y what changed your mind? O’HALLORAN: It’s never easy getting up at 3 am, especially with two young boys. It’s just a matter of getting into a routine. It probably took me a week to I was an apprentice back home a long time ago. I had a handful of ten days to get back into the swing of things. rides but I struggled a lot with weight and eventually decided not to continue. ou have been with Gai a very long time, how did you Y come to meet Gai? lthough brief, what did you like most about A being a jockey? I’ve been here since August 2003 so over ten years now. I wanted to go to America back then and applied through a company called Equipeople but I The thrill and excitement of it all, it’s very hard to compare it to couldn’t get a visa. Equipeople, after asking me if I was interested in Australia, anything else. I remember asking an ex-jockey a long time ago what sent my details to Gai Waterhouse Racing and they also helped me apply for my it feels like to ride a winner and he said to me, “It’s like licking

Adam Hyeronimus on Precia, Ryan Pendergast on More than Ready/Trust Antonia and Steve O’Halloran on Tiare

Pierro, Steve O’Halloran, Gai and owners Greg and Alex Kolivos.

32 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au BEHIND THE SCENES

ice-cream for the first time.” He was dead right. I think everyone in the stable is looking forward Pierro was one of those horses that don’t come to seeing what Fiorente can do this spring. We along very often, he was a complete cham- hat advice would you offer think we can finally win the Melbourne Cup. To pion in all sense of the word without a doubt. W someone interested in a do what he did last year was unbelievable, now From his attitude to his will to win, he was the career as a jockey? he’s fully acclimatised here, the sky is the limit complete package. It was just a matter of keep- for Fiorente. There is also a lot of lovely three- ing him happy and sticking to the routine that That it is a lot of hard work, you need to make year-olds like Aussie Loves Sport, Ecuador, Gai had planned for him. a lot of sacrifices, be very dedicated and have a War, Bullpoint and Romantic Touch who good head on your shoulders. If you are willing will make their mark over the spring, plus, we o you see yourself training in to work hard and listen to the right people then have some great two-year-olds trialling at the D the future? I’m sure one day I would love to open a race card, maybe on Golden Slipper day, and see I think everyone is looking ‘Trainer: S O’Halloran’. But for the moment “ I’m quite happy, I come home to my beautiful forward to seeing what Fiorente family every day which keeps my feet firmly on can do this spring... the ground. ” orking for a lady like Gai must Wbe exciting, what is the most rewarding part of your job? you will never question your decision to follow moment. It is definitely an exciting time of year. that path. Our team is firing on all cylinders at the ierro was a champion in all moment so this time of year Gai has that extra ou worked very closely with the P sense of the word. He won all spring in her step, especially when it comes Y likes of Grand Armee, Dance six starts as a two-year-old and to her babies. They are a day to day proposi- hero, Fashions Afield and Aqua went on successfully as a three- tion that can change quickly so there is a lot D’Amore. More recently you had a year-old. Now he stands as a stal- of organising. Gai looks at their prospects for strong affiliation with the champion lion at the beautiful Coolmore Stud. five months down the track so I’m sure she has Pierro. Are you working closely with Describe your relationship with her Golden Slipper winner picked out already, any up and coming champions for Pierro and your duties involved, she’ll just wait until the Breeders’ Plate day to this spring? when he was at Tulloch Lodge. announce it. ▣

Newlyweds Steve and Stephanie with children Riley and Kegan

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 33 BACK IN THE DAY BACK IN THE DAY WITH T.J. SMITH

Part two: Archival interview between Grant Vandenberg and Australian racing legend TJ Smith

By Grant Vandenberg

Cont... apparently been a great help. Would she have Vandenberg: Are there any rules in racing Smith: I did have 15,000 pounds on a horse made a capable trainer? you’d change, given the opportunity? one day. Smith: She’s good at anything, especially Smith: Only one. I think the bleeding rule is Vandenberg: Did it win? when it comes to horses. She’s got a good eye very unfair. If a horse bleeds twice in his racing Smith: Yes for a horse and she’s a real horse lover, and has career, he’s barred in NSW and Victoria. Yet Vandenberg: What was its name? everything it takes to make a trainer. they can race in America. The rule was insti- Smith: It was Love To All, and that was when Vandenberg: Is it easy to set a horse for a gated by a couple of gentlemen who at the time pounds were pounds. But I often used to have plunge? didn’t know much about racing, and they’d four or five thousand quid on a horse. Smith: I don’t know. You’ve got to be a good been influenced by the likes of the champion Vandenberg: How did you meet your wife judge to set a horse for a plunge. A lot of train- jockey George Moore, who was against bleed- Valerie? ers just don’t see the real fitness in them. ers. There are certain types of horses who, like Smith: When Bragger won the Wagga Cup. Vandenberg: Has luck been on the side of some humans, have a nose bleed, but it doesn’t Vandenberg: She was a country girl? T.J. Smith? affect them at all. I feel the Australian Jockey Smith: No. She didn’t even like horses, but Smith: Well, what do you call luck? I don’t Club should do something about it. her mum did and Valerie drove her to the know what you call it. If there’s a place for sale, Vandenberg: Tell us about your first horse, meeting. I certainly backed a winner that day. you might buy it and it turns out a goldmine Bragger. Vandenberg: Your daughter Gai, now mar- or you might not buy it. I think you make your Smith: He was a gelding by a stallion called ried to book maker, Robbie Waterhouse, has own luck. Windbag, a real rogue, and nobody could do

Kingston Town won the 1980 Rosehill Guiness. Pic by Bradley Photographers Bradley Pic by

34 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au BACK IN THE DAY

anything with him. ducks and geese. Thankfully he was unhurt. At friend and advisor. Do you attribute much of Vandenberg: How did you acquire him? his third start he took out the first race at your success to him? Smith: At the time I was riding track work Rosehill. Smith: Ah yes, we’ve been an amazing and helping an old fellow, Mr Sawyer, to train Vandenberg: Did you back him? combination. his team near Cootamundra. He was very Smith: Yeah, but I was pretty broke at the Vandenberg: When did you first meet Dr sick at the time and asked me to take over his time. I think I only had about four quid on Sykes? horses and to ride them for him. I was only a him, but it was a start. Smith: It was a funny thing. I heard people teenager at the time and I would do anything Vandenberg: You raced him until he was talking about this horse doctor who’d come just to be able to ride in a race. I became the ten years old, which is unusual for a trainer out from England and was pretty smart with leading trainer in the Riverina with only six especially for T.J. Smith. horses. One day I had a horse who’d broken its horses. There weren’t a lot of meetings and Smith: Well, he didn’t start racing until he sesamoid bone. In those days, the early fifties, often you’d win two races in the one day with was five. He was a buck-jumper, an outlaw, a horse would be destroyed with an injury like the same horse. From there I brought Bragger and that’s why I got him. But I’ve got an eye that. I had an outstanding filly at the time who to Sydney. for horses and I knew he was going to be good. broke her sesamoid and my vet told me she’d Vandenberg: Were you confident about Vandenberg: What happened to Bragger? have to be shot dead. I told him she’d won three straight races before the accident, but he still wanted to destroy her. I was driving home and I noticed this chap going down High Smith: She’s good at any- Street, Randwick in a little old car and some- “ one said, “That’s that fella Sykes.” I turned thing, especially when it comes around, tracked him down, and took him back to the stables. He said he could fix her to horses..... and did. Do you know that in three months’ ” time she was back racing, and won another three straight? Her name was Devil Dancer. They don’t destroy them now with fractured breaking into the big time? Smith: He was tragically burned to death in sesamoids. Smith: Always, but it took a little while. Late a float accident while returning to my stables Vandenberg: Has he been a help in training in 1941 I barrier-trialled Bragger at Victoria after a spell. your horses? Park racecourse, which is not there anymore. Vandenberg: Were you well on the way to Smith: My word. I’m a horse trainer, not a He bolted, threw his jockey and couldn’t success by that time? vet, and I’ve never wanted to be a vet. In those be found anywhere. After a couple of hours Smith: Oh yeah, I was well on the way. I was days trainers thought they knew everything of desperate searching he turned up at La like a bush fire: I had everyone talking about about horses. No I didn’t want to be a tooth Perouse with a farmer out there. He’d made me. doctor or a blacksmith, as people did in those an eight-kilometre dash through the traffic Vandenberg: The world–renowned vet- days. I employed the best to work on my and finished up in a pond playing with the erinary surgeon Percy Sykes has been a good horses.▶

TJ’s first racehorse Bragger

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 35 BACK IN THE DAY (cont...)

LEFT T.J. on a horse in Cooks River (Taken from the Herald, Saturday 02/06/1945)

BELOW T.J. and Valerie Smith (Taken from SMH, 24/10/1994, p46)

Vandenberg: Does it surprise you to hear But you can’t get attached to horses when you he’s the best jockey the world has seen - we that you’ve won nearly $25 million in prize train them, because otherwise you’ll get too were a terrific combination. He was a freak who money and trained more than 4000 metropoli- kind and you can’t be kind when you’re training had the knack of making horses do things that tan winners? racehorses. other jockeys couldn’t make them do. Smith: Have I really? That will take some Vandenberg: If you weren’t a trainer, would Vandenberg: What has been the highlight of beating, won’t it? Especially when you consider you own racehorses? your career? we used to race for 200 quid. Smith: Yes, most definitely. Smith: Winning 30 straight training premier- Vandenberg: What’s your share of that 25 Vandenberg: Who would train your horses? ships and winning my first Derby with Playboy. Vandenberg: Will you go on to 50 premier- ships? Smith: I really wouldn’t like to say. It’d certainly be an achievement. But I set myself to win 30 and I’ve done it. I’ll take all the overs I Smith: Winning 30 straight can get. Vandenberg: What about the low times? premierships“ and winning my Smith: No, I’m not really a person who gets down. If ever it happens it only lasts an hour first Derby with Playboy...... and I’m back. There are too many good things ” around..... ▣ ** In the 2012 / 2013 season Sydney trainer Chris Waller set a new training record when million? Smith: I think there are two very great trainers he broke the previous record of 156 winners Smith: Ten percent. at present: Theo Green and Bobby Thomsen. that was jointly held by T.J. Smith (1975/1976) Vandenberg: Not bad career earnings? Vandenberg: Thomsen used to be your stable and Gai Waterhouse (2002/2003). Smith: It would keep you in a nightclub for a foreman. few weeks. Smith: Yeah, he’s got an eye for a horse which ** To further indicate the genius of T.J. Smith Vandenberg: Does sentiment come into rac- you’ve got to have. it is important to note that the little master ing? Do you ever get sentimental and become Vandenberg: How would he compare with achieved his record in 109 Metropolitan meet- attached to your horses? some of the great jockeys you have seen over ings as compared to the 123 Metropolitan Smith: No I don’t, but I do like this horse the years? meetings that were held in the 2012/2013 Kingston Town. He’s fascinating, you know. Smith: George Moore stood by himself. I think season.

36 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au CA4906_42%_Pg_GaiWaterhouseMag_Oct'13__42%_Pg_GaiWaterhouseMag_Oct'13 14/10/2013 15:51 Page 1

of Gai’s Stakes winners (1st August 2008 - 11th October 2013) are progeny of COOLMORE sires including...

DESCARADO (High Chaparral) 1st G1 MRC Caulfield Stakes Descarado 1st G1 MRC Caulfield Cup MANHATTAN RAIN (Encosta de Lago) Proisir 1st G1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes NORTHERN METEOR (Encosta de Lago) 1st G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes

ONCE WERE WILD (Johannesburg) Vaquera 1st G1 AJC Oaks NIAGARA (Encosta de Lago) 1st G2 ATC Ajax Stakes Northern RAIN DRUM (Fastnet Rock) Meteor 1st G2 ATC Shannon Stakes DRIEFONTEIN (Fastnet Rock) 1st G3 ATC Sheraco Stakes 1st Listed Magic Millions 2yo Classic Manhattan Rain PROISIR (Choisir) 1st G3 Spring Stakes 2nd G1 ATC Randwick Guineas 2nd G1 ATC Spring Champion Stakes VAQUERA (High Chaparral) 1st G3 Tibbie Stakes Once Were 3rd G1 Queensland Oaks Wild

WHITTINGTON (Tale Of The Cat) Driefontein 1st Listed ATC Breeders Plate

Tom Magnier, Michael Kirwan, Peter O’Brien, Colm Santry, Shane McGrath, Sebastian Hutch or Paddy Oman Tel: 02 6576 4200. New Zealand: Gordon Calder Tel:+64 218 41612. www.coolmore.com

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 37 SPECIAL INTEREST SPECIAL INTEREST AT THE TRACK

With Need for Steed Aus photography

PICTURED LEFT Adam Hyeronimus on Flying Sebring (Sebring x Western Passage)

Flying Sebring, before heading out for a spell, won three from his last four, at distances between 1200m and 1800m. Since coming back in, the son of 2008 Golden Slipper winner Sebring has trialled nicely and will no doubt continue to show the talent and versatility that is very typical of the progeny of Sebring.

PICTURED RIGHT Blake Spriggs on Guelder (O’Reilly x Volkrose)

Guelder has had heads turning at Tulloch Lodge since she made her trial debut in early November 2012. Typical of her breed, Guelder has taken a little time to mature and grow and she is now ready to get serious. Guelder is one for the black book if the form she has been showing on the training track is any indication.

38 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au SPECIAL INTEREST

Y EARLINGS

A closer look at some of the future propsects for Tulloch Lodge

PICTURED RIGHT (High Chaparral x Miss Maren)

This colt is by one of the best sires of middle distance horses in the world (High Chaparral) and is out of the 2009 Group Three Easter Cup winner Miss Maren. His pedigree indicates he will be very competitive up to a mile and dynamic beyond. He is a very exciting prospect.

PICTURED LEFT Temple Divine (Fastnet Rock x Temple of Peace)

Temple Divine has the brilliance of Fastnet Rock in her DNA as well as a certain intrigue due to her mum being a very good Japanese mare (Temple of Peace). She is a beautifully built filly who has class personified and anticipation is high regarding her racetrack debut.

www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au 39