Gai`s Gazette - Gai Waterhouse

Transcription

GAI’S GAZETTE
7TH EDITION/March 2014
Subtitle
EDITOR-IN-CHIEf
Lea Stracey
CONTRIBUTORS
Gai Waterhouse
Rob Waterhouse
Zeb Armstrong
Lea Stracey
Madison Whant
Emma Pearce
Ric Chapman
Graphic design & layout
Madison Whant
chief photographer
Bradley Photographers
www.bradleyphotos.com.au
Editorial Photographer
Need for Steed Aus.
www.needforsteed.com.au
Advertisers
Inglis
Bluebloods
Yarraman
AUSHORSE
Coolmore
Widden
Goffs
Doncaster Hotel
Auldy’s
Logan Livestock Insurance
Turangga Stud
Rheinwood Pastoral
Great Ocean Road Tourism
Doncaster Hotel
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Advertising Manager
Ric Chapman
ric@gaiwaterhouse.com.au
PrINTERS
Graphic Impressions
GAI’S
GAZETTE
T
he leaves are already falling,
daylight saving will soon be
over (I can tell because it is
now dark when I am awakened by the dulcet tones of Emma Ayres
on ABC radio) and there is a definite chill
in the air in the early morning when I
open the front door.
Autumn has crept up behind Summer
and soon will be in full swing. I love this
time of year because the Racing Calendar moves to Sydney and because the
Inglis Easter Yearling Sales are knocking
on our door. This year especially, racing
prize money has had a massive boost
with the ATC’s Championship Race series
and this will certainly create much competition and interest from everyone
involved in the industry.
Last night I sent a suggested itinerary of yearling inspection visits to the
Hunter Valley and another to the Southern Highlands to our Lady Trainer. As
you are reading this magazine, Gai, racing manager, Adrian Bott and I will
probably be pootling about the countryside making our first inspections of
the “babies” before they come to the city. It is so satisfying to be identifying
what we believe to be the next champions of the turf. Even better is the
experience of sale time at the Inglis Newmarket Complex when the competition to buy sets in. The microcosm of Newmarket becomes our home for
around eight days. Arthur Inglis, Mark Webster and their staff are wonderful
and professional hosts. Old friends and familiar faces from all over Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia and the Middle East greet one another,
share opinions and gather for delicious meals in the sumptuous marquees
provided by the Stud Owners. Deals are made, auctions are won and lost
and horses are secured. I know you will find Zeb Armstrong’s feature article
on the protagonists of the Inglis Sales and its experience very interesting. I
encourage you to come and be part of the Inglis experience on the 8th, 9th
and 10th April.
Something you may not know very much about is that Gai as a young
woman, rode to the hunt in England. You will enjoy learning of her enthusiasm for “jumps racing” and the fun that Warrnambool has to offer in May.
Gai also holds a jumps licence and looks forward to presenting her first
jumps horse at the ‘Bool this year.
Please enjoy this 7th Edition of Gai’s Gazette
See you at the Sales
Lea Stracey
Editor-In-Chief
4
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
Contents
Page 36
Page 10
Page 6
Performance of the Month: Fiorente Wins First Up by Zeb Armstrong
Pages 8-9 From the Pen of the Lady Trainer
Pages 10-11 Chris Hargreave, A Man Who Keeps Fit on and Off the Track by Ric Chapman
Pages 12-13 Everything Old is New Again by Madison Whant
Pages 14-16 Inglis: 147 Years of Excellence and Counting by Zeb Armstrong
Page 12
Pages 18-20 American John Brocklebank was a Great Asset to Gai at the Recent Magic Millions (MM) Sale by Rob Waterhouse
Pages 22-24 Warrnambool Racing Club Unplugged by Zeb Armstrong
Page 26
Warrnambool Businessman Colin McKenna on All Things Racing with Zeb Armstrong
Page 27 Prime Time with Doug Bollinger..... by Ric Chapman
Pages 28-32 The Championships - An Initiative by Racing NSW by Zeb Armstrong
Pages 34-35 Recent Winners
Pages 36-38 An Interview with Top Jockey Tommy Berry by Madison Whant
Page 40
A Family Affair by Emma Pearce
Page 42
Sanitas Per Aquam by Lea Stracey
Page 6
5
Performance of the Month
Fiorente Wins First Up
Photo by Mark Gatt
W
By Zeb Armstrong
eighing up all the recent
great performances by
the Gai Waterhouse team
in an attempt to find the
Performance of the Month has been quite
a task. The stable has been winning at least
three races every Saturday and usually five
or six races per week. In contention for the
‘Performance of the Month’ award there
was… Amanpour, who broke her maiden
by seven lengths in what was a sensational
victory. Ecuador, a gelding that came back
a winner with the weight of expectation
firmly upon his ample shoulders. Dormello
for improving out of sight and recording
back to back tenacious wins, and Wandjina
for winning as he pleased on a wet Wednesday at Warwick Farm. Sweet Idea was also
discussed due to her great Randwick win
after her successful Magic Millions trip. In
the end, the nod had to go to the champ. It
has to be Fiorente and his brilliant first up
win at Caulfield.
The 2013 Melbourne Cup winner
Fiorente (Monsun x Desert Bloom) is back,
and the big entire certainly has the racing
press talking due to his brilliant first up
win. Fiorente is the first horse since Saintly
to win first up after having won the Melbourne Cup at his previous start. Dunaden
won the Cup in 2011 then after a brief
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freshen up, he won the Hong Kong Vase.
But Saintly (1996 Melbourne Cup – spell
– 1997 Futurity first up) and now Fiorente
are the only horses in recent memory to win
first up after a proper spell post their Cup
wins. By achieving this, Fiorente continues
his record breaking Australian career. He
was also the first horse in the 20th century
to place in a Melbourne Cup and comeback
the next year to win it. Among the horses
to achieve this (along with Fiorente) are
Carbine and Phar Lap. It is fair to say that
Fiorente is a record breaker and he is not
even looking like slowing down!
Perhaps Gai, a few of the lucky / hopeful
owners and maybe Damien Oliver, would
have been confident that Fiorente would
win the Peter Young Stakes at the 400m
mark on Saturday. The entire at this stage,
was under pressure and despite every
punter in Australia knowing just how
quickly he can close, he looked to be too far
back. But this horse possesses two things
that all trainers wish all their horses had…
a blinding ambition to win, and in my
opinion more natural brilliance than 95% of
other horses. Damien Oliver was weary of
the ‘curse of Caulfield’ on Sydney horses
and balanced his mount after the turn before
really letting the big boy stride. From here
Fiorente pinned his ears back, looked up
the straight and let rip. It was a miraculous
last 300m and the champ certainly was not
at his best for this race. There is still plenty
more to come.
There were murmurs in the mounting
yard prior to the race that Fiorente may
have simply been a touch fat and maybe
even vulnerable first up. He certainly was
not fat, but was not at his top either. He has
a big campaign ahead of him and Gai is a
master of getting a great horse fit enough
to win first up, while still leaving plenty of
improvement in him for later assignments.
Fiorente’s campaign will be a matter of
great debate and excitement for the rest
of the autumn, but wherever he goes, it is
great to have a genuine star of the turf back
and in form early in the Carnival.
Congratulations to all of the owners of
Fiorente on another great win. The scenes
in the grandstand were reminiscent of those
on the first Tuesday of November 2013,
with plenty of excitement and lots of high
fives and hugs. Well done also to Damien
Oliver on a very patient and caring ride.
Damien mentioned after the race that
Fiorente has ‘that will to win’ and that
praise coming from a Hall of Fame jockey
should keep everyone very happy leading
into the champ’s next start. ▣
From the Pen of the Lady
Trainer
Gai with Danielle Cheng, Executive Director of Sun International Group
Photo by Lisa Grimm
Caption
I
have my runners on and I am
running here there and everywhere.
This time of year there is no room
for error. Time is sparse for trainers
at the best of times, but heading into the
Autumn Carnival, I simply don’t know
where the hours are going. I have been
darting back and forth from Melbourne to
oversee my Victorian charges in what has
been a delectable Autumn Carnival at both
Flemington and Caulfield. As I am putting
pen to paper it is about to culminate with
the champ Fiorente (Monsun x Desert
Bloom) running in the Group One 10f
(2000m) Australian Cup at Flemington.
Son Tom was surprised that Fiorente
could win first up over 9f (1800m). But
what is often forgotten is that this horse
is truly one of the great middle distance
stayers in Australia. He has been since the
first moment he put his hoof on the Australian turf. Since his first up win he has gone
ahead in a major way and he will head to
Sydney after the Australian Cup is done and
dusted. There is a major feature written
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about The Championships later in the magazine which I urge you all to read. Fiorente
will be involved in this new race series
somehow, but I am ever mindful that a trip
to Royal Ascot with the entire is not out of
the question. The Prince of Wales’ Stakes or
even the Ascot Gold Cup could be winnable
races. The King Edward VII Stakes over a
“The Inglis Melbourne
Premier Sale has just
concluded. There was
excellent depth in the
quality of the youngsters at this sale.....”
mile and a half is also a potential option.
But it is still early days and both the Australian and international options are still to be
discussed.
Sales dot the horizon for the Lady Trainer at this time of year. The Inglis Melbourne
Premier Sale has just concluded. There was
excellent depth in the quality of the youngsters at this sale. There was strong overseas
interest especially from Asia, even from as
far away as Mongolia. This demonstrates
just how much of a global sport racing has
become and how Australia is a great place
to buy and race. We have mirror images
of all the world’s best stallions as well as
superb prize money. What we also have
in Australia is that brilliant Down Under
sunshine. This natural phenomenon does
wonders for the muscle, bone and strength
of the young horses.
The Golden Slipper is a race I just love
to win. Sitting on my lazy susan I currently
have five Golden Slippers which I look at
every day as I am sitting down for a meal.
They are there to remind me of why I get
up every morning and to keep me striving
for Group One success. I also have one
of my Doncaster trophies on show, plus
Melbourne and Caulfield Cups and even
a sneaky Ballarat Cup that I won last year
with The Offer.
Damien Oliver with Fiorente after the Peter Young Stakes
Photo by Mark Gatt
Tommy Berry and Fighting Sun winning the Canonbury Stakes
The two-year-old’s are fascinating
creatures. They can easily go one way or
the other. Fighting Sun (Northern Meteor
x Irish Darling) has been retired to stand
at Eliza Park in Victoria. He is the fastest
unbeaten son of Northern Meteor, not to
mention that he is drop dead gorgeous with
a great constitution and he will be a wonder
at stud. Law (Denman x Lady Cat) is a
completely different type. He was unbeaten
heading into the Silver Slipper, but those
who know Sydney will know that the
Autumn Carnival and rain go hand in glove.
Law withstood plenty of early pressure and
the wet track took away his brilliant turn
of foot.
Handling the owners can sometimes be
harder than handling the horses, especially
leading into a big race. The excitement and
the expectation grip everyone and I do on
occasion have to train the owners as much
as the horses. When disappointment strikes,
I have to often remind everyone that a
Grand Final is exactly that… a Grand Final.
The lead up races can sometimes just be a
smoke screen leading to the main event. I
harp back to 1988 and a horse my father
trained named Star Watch. This colt was
all the rage heading into the Slipper, but he
was beaten in one of the lead up races. As
a result, he jumped at 13-2 ($7.50) in the
1988 Golden Slipper and bolted in. Punters
had lost faith, but Dad had the horse ready
for his Grand Final which was the Slipper,
Photo by Lisa Grimm
Photo by Lisa Grimm
Tommy Berry and
Carlton House
with strapper Mel
Norton
day, Highclere’s Opinion that had 7kg (15.4
pounds) less than the beautiful entire, but
he did exactly what I wanted. He jumped
wonderfully well, took up the running and
led them a merry dance without spending
a penny in the run. This race will bring
him on in leaps and bounds in his preparation for the 10f (2000m) Ranvet which
“He (Carlton House) jumped wonderfully well, took
up the running and led them a merry dance without
spending a penny in the run .....”
not a race two weeks before. Ha Ha was an
interesting filly for me back in 2001. I had
five runners in the Slipper that particular
year and Ha Ha was the least fancied of
them all at $13. Excellerator and Royal
Courtship shared favouritism if memory
serves me correctly. On the big day Ha Ha
was primed; she was set for her Grand Final
and of course she won!
I was extremely pleased with Carlton
House (Street Cry x Talented) who put his
best foot forward at his last start at the time
of print. Yes, he found one better on the
will be his first start at Group One level in
Australia.
Gai TV is back and we relaunched it at
the time of Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Don’t worry I have not jumped ship and
Rob is safe. This time of year, people may
not have time to read my blog, so on Gai
TV I speak to my viewers of the thing I
love most - horse racing.
Well as I mentioned, time is of the
essence. Enjoy the rest of the magazine and
see you in the Winner’s Circle.
Gai xxx ▣
9
Photo by Need for Steed Aus.
Chris Hargreave, A Man Who
Keeps Fit On and Off the Track
Tulloch Lodge senior trackwork rider Chris Hargreave upskills himself regularly
to improve our fitness as well as his own
By Ric Chapman
O
ne of Gai’s senior riders out
in the centre of Randwick
Racecourse each morning
is rider, Chris Hargreave - a
tough, robust, get-the-job-done, no-nonsense type of man, who turns 30 this year.
He rides trackwork for Gai and is a supreme rider who urges the best from every
horse he rides. For this he is respected and
admired by both peers and staff alike.
On top of all this, he has fire in his belly
for something else, something that is far
more personally uplifting and fulfilling, and
is something that simply enriches lives.
He is an upskiller, a man driven to
acquire knowledge and then package it up
to help others better their health, and as a
consequence - their lives.
Chris is a man of many talents. Not only
is he a leading trackwork rider but he is also
a Personal Fitness Trainer with a thriving
business based in the Eastern Suburbs of
Sydney. The two go hand in hand as personal fitness is an integral part of horse riding.
He shares his expertise and knowledge to
enhance the lives of others via fitness. “My
approach is a holistic one,” he explains. “I
10
believe nutrition and exercise need to work
in harmony and need to be tailored to every
client so as to meet their needs. If we do
that, lives improve.”
Already his business, known as Racing Fit (which can be found on Facebook
under that appellation or via his email:
chrishargreave@gmail.com), has some
lofty clients, not the least of which is in
form Tulloch Lodge house jockey, Adam
Hyeronimus.
“I work on his core strength, and concentrate on his back and stomach,” said
Hargreave. “It’s challenging working with
jockeys, because the worst enemy of a rider
is putting on muscle mass which is heavier,
so it’s a pretty fine line we walk making
them stronger, but NOT increasing their
muscles.”
Hyeronimus has been in scintillating
form in the irons of late, not surprisingly
since falling under Hargreave’s training
regime. Blake Spriggs is also a recruit.
“Obviously we work on different areas
of people’s lives and deficiencies when
they join us,” Hargreave explains. “It’s a bit
like training a racehorse - not all of them
require, need, or appreciate the exact training format. So some will do high intensity,
fast work, with minimal recovery, while
others will do longer programs to improve
their blood flow and overall fitness. It’s
a constant and intriguing battle trying to
find the right program to suit each person’s
needs, but it’s important, because, what is
the statistic - something like our muscles
atrophy and lose 15% strength every three
years past about 30.”
As a man approaching 30 this year, he
lives his philosophy too.
His diet is basically Paleo in nature
(very little wheat, alcohol, sugars and no
soft drinks. The Sydney Roosters are Paleo
recruits too). He runs and trains in the gym
on top of his demanding trackwork schedule, and he relaxes, which is paramount to
wellbeing.
Soon, however, that relaxing may change
dramatically as he’s marrying his fiancee,
Nancy, in May. “Yes, finally tying the knot.
I couldn’t be happier as she is likeminded
in her approach to training. In fact, we first
met in a gym in New York a few years
ago.”
Chris riding Clarence View at track work
W
Hargreave is English, having first
learned his riding trade as an apprentice in
England almost half his life ago.
“I was small and loved horses, and my
family knew a bit about racing, so I went
into a stable. My growth spurt came while
I was young and I became too heavy as a
teenager to continue on as a jockey, but the
bug had bitten and I knew I just wanted to
stay in the game somehow. So I went to
Newmarket to ride work and attended the
British Racing School there too. But as I
learned and gathered experience, I wanted
to travel too, and made my way to New
Zealand for a few years because I have
relatives there, before coming to Australia
six years ago.”
hen he first arrived in
Australia, he worked
as a trackwork rider for
John O’Shea at Randwick. “It was there, that I had time to enrol
into the Fitness Institute of Australia and
studied very hard to graduate. John only
wanted me to ride trackwork so time was
on my side each day, and it has changed
my life.”
He came to Tulloch Lodge just on two
and half years ago now.
“Jason Lee works for Gai, and he is a good
friend of mine. When it came time to find a
new horizon and leave John, Jase introduced me to Gai and Mark (Newnham) and
I’ve been here ever since. Which suits me
perfectly as riding upwards of 20 gallopers
some mornings keeps you rather fit. Plus
let’s face it, Gai is a genius and her horses
all run beautifully and feel strong.”
In the time here he rates Pierro the best
he has ridden, but quickly qualifies that. “I
only trot and cantered him. The best I’ve
galloped is Overreach.”
Heartstrings pull every now and then
upon all of us, and Hargreave is no different. He knows his elderly father back in England would love him to come home. “But
Dad also knows this is a better lifestyle for
me, so he accepts that,” he tells us.
In the interim, the urge to upskill continues
naturally for him and he recently began
another course - this time on nutrition. “I
want to offer a holistic approach to my
clients. I’ll add nutrition to my skills, then
who knows, I may even look at Pilates
next. I think we all need to keep evolving
and upskilling.”
We are fortunate that is it this passion
and desire to improve that he transfers to
the mounts he guides around in the dark
every morning at Randwick. ▣
“My growth spurt came while I was young and I became too heavy as a teenager to continue as a jockey, but the bug had bitten and I knew I just wanted
to stay in the game somehow.....”
Chris Hargreave training Gai Waterhouse jockey Adam Hyeronimus
11
Ryan Pendergast with Denman x Thunderbell and Medaglia d’Oro x Mysterious
Entering new territory with breaker Ryan Pendergast
By Madison Whant
W
hen Gai Waterhouse
comes to you and asks
for nothing short of what
seems to be the impossible – whether it be starting her magazine
from scratch, or moving to the other side
of the world to train by her side –it seems
there is rather little left to do but say “yes”.
Needless to say, when Gai came to Ryan
Pendergast to inform him she wanted him
to break her yearlings on the track, rather
than the traditional pre training farms, he
had his reservations.
Looking back to just under two years
ago, Ryan appreciates Gai’s innovative brilliance when it comes to her training more
than ever before.
“We have quite a good system going
now. The young horses are benefitting from
being broken in on the track because it exposes them to so much from such a young
age. When race day or the trials come, it is
just another day for them.”
An innovative approach to training is
a natural talent for Gai. Hardly a surprise,
being the offspring of racing legend TJ
12
Smith who worked closely together with
the late Percy Sykes. They were considered by many as pioneers in our Australian
racing industry. Gai remembers well a time
long ago when her father had all his horses
broken in on the track. Indeed, TJ was
renowned for being the best trainer of twoyear-olds. For many years she has wanted
to revive this practice and now, with Ryan
as chief breaker of her yearlings her wish
has come true.
From Narrandera in western New South
Wales Ryan came to Sydney with 20 years
of breaking experience under his belt and
stepped up to the challenge offered him by
Gai.
With the Magic Millions, Karaka and Inglis Sales at the forefront of Gai’s yearling
purchases, the breaking in period begins in
January and, working on a 5-8 horse rotation, comes to a close in late May. In just
3 weeks Ryan will progress the yearlings
from simple ground work – flexing, leading, lunging and introducing them to the
saddle – to riding, first in the round yards
with the help of John Sheridan and Neville
Auld, then in the bull ring for a smaller
‘track-like’ setting before graduating to
canters on the sand and finally the dirt at
Randwick Racecourse.
“Taking the babies out to the middle, to
the tower and on the dirt allows Gai to see
them and monitor their progress every day
and also gets them used to the training situation without any pressure,” Ryan enthuses.
Leaving no stone unturned, they also do
daily barrier training, so that by the time
they are turned out for their first spell, they
are comfortable being locked into the barriers and trotting and cantering out of them.
Pedigree and preperation has a lot to do
with the success of this new operation. “A
well-bred and well-managed horse makes
our job a lot easier. We are working with
the best of the best under Gai’s careful selection. Where I come from, working with
horses from the paddock takes a lot longer.
But yearlings that have been through the
stress of the yearling sales come together
much quicker and nicer,” he explains.
However, the most desirable quality
above all in a yearling is attitude. A good
Everything Old is New Again
Ryan working with a colt by More
Than Ready x Little Chloe
attitude goes a long way in a racehorse. You
only have to look at Star Throughbreds’
colt Law (Denman x Lady Cat) to see this.
Although broken at a pre training farm,
the colt was purchased for just $90,000.
Since the Spring he has now earned close to
$121,250.
One colt to look out for, broken in under
Ryan’s watchful eye on the track breaking
system is Wandjina (Snitzel x La Bamba)
out of the 2013 Inglis Easter Sale. He has
made his mark this year with a commanding
win in the Australian Turf Club Handicap at
Warwick Farm.
“He’s coming late in the preparation
for the Golden Slipper but he’s all brilliance and that’s what you need, you need
brilliance,” Gai said of Wandjina after this
fantastic win under the guidance of trusted
jockey Nash Rawiller.
Currently Gai is doing her rounds of the
Inglis Sales and Ryan is excited by her
prospects so far. Just two weeks ago Ryan
said “I turned out some of the nicest horses
I have ever ridden after breaking. They carried themselves and worked around the dirt
nicer than some of the older horses”
Ryan is looking forward to that particular
rotation coming back in for the second time.
The Magic Millions purchases consisted of
five colts with impressive pedigrees indeed.
Super sires More Than Ready, Denman,
Fastnet Rock, Lonhro and Redoute’s Choice
were all in the mix.
“I originally had some reservations
“A well-bred and
well-managed horse
makes our job alot easier. We are working with
the best of the best.....”
breaking them in at the track as the setting
is stressful, but it has proved to be a great
success. The other advantage is that Gai
gets to see them from a young age and has
firsthand feedback as opposed to second
hand feedback from pre training farm
reports. She sees them everyday, monitors
their progress, gets to know their quirks and
strengths right from the get go and this will
be a huge advantage for her.”
Gai certainly has a promising team of
two-year-olds aimed at the Autumn Carnival this year. It will be an exciting ride for
Ryan if a Group 1 winner is produced from
this new track breaking in system.
Everything old may certainly be new
again..... ▣
13
Inglis: 147 Years of Excellence
and Counting
Mark Webster & Arthur Inglis took some time out of their busy lives to talk racing,
sales and all things Inglis
By Zeb Armstrong
T
he Inglis Classic Sale took
place in January and last
week the Inglis Yearling Sales
moved south for the Inglis
Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale which
was held from 2 March until 4 March. This
is the sale in which, in 2008, Black Caviar
walked through the sales ring and out to
the Moody stables for just $210,000. It is a
very quick turnaround to the ‘sale that stops
a nation,’ the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to
be held on April 8, 9 and 10 in Randwick,
Sydney.
William Inglis & Son first commenced
operations in 1867 selling farm produce.
The Inglis Company then moved to selling
bloodstock and by 1906, William Inglis
& Son were selling horses galore in the
then rented premises known as Newmarket at Randwick in Sydney. In 1917 the
headquarters for William Inglis & Son was
stationed permanently at Newmarket after
the company purchased the property. Here
the headquarters remain. Packed to the
rafters each and every Easter, this brilliant
sales complex is the heart of all yearling
sales in the southern hemisphere. The sales
complex is no more than ten minutes from
the Sydney CBD and with a good run only
ten minutes from the international airport.
Randwick Racecourse is just across the
road thus making this sales complex the
best positioned sale yard in the entire world.
Many of the greatest horses Australia has
ever seen have passed under the hammer
under the guidance of a watchful Inglis auctioneer and this year at the Easter Sale there
will be 550 lots all of the highest quality all
looking for a new home.
Of all the horses Gai has purchased at the
Inglis sales Australia wide over the years,
one that really stands out as both a favourite
of the Lady Trainer and reliable money
maker for lovers of Australian racing, has to
be Grand Armee. Grand Armee is very typ-
14
ical of the type of horse that the Inglis sales
are famous for producing, namely well-bred
nice types that have extraordinary success
on the track. That description is perfect for
Grand Armee.
Grand Armee
(Hennessy x Tambour)
Grand Armee was sold at the Inglis Easter sale in the year 2000 for just $150,000.
The gelding went on to win over 5.3 million
on the track and is placed 14th on the alltime list of the highest earning thoroughbreds in Australia. Only Takeover Target
and Black Caviar sit higher on the list as
horses that never placed or won a Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup.
To win $5.3 million without ever placing in
one of the spring majors is a testament to
just how consistent this gelding was in the
rich Sydney handicaps and what were the
very deep Weight for Age races of the mid
2000s (Who can forget Desert War, Lonhro,
Makybe Diva, Private Steer!). In Sydney
from 2003 to 2005, Grand Armee’s major
wins included the Ajax Stakes, the Doncaster, the Queen Elizabeth twice, the George
Main, the Chipping Norton, the Apollo and
Grand Armee also won a Mackinnon
in Melbourne which proved he was not
just a Sydney sensation. This all adds up
to a pretty significant career and not a bad
effort for a gelding that did not even start
favourite at his first start which was a set
weights maiden at Newcastle. Grand Armee
is a great example of the quality of horse
that can be purchased through the Inglis
sales and every year there are plenty of
potential champions like Grand Armee or
Black Caviar just waiting to be sold. There
are even plenty of potential Cup winners
just waiting for their chance to impress
in the inspections and in the sales ring.
Fawkner, the 2013 Caulfield Cup winner
is 100% Australian born and was sold for
just $70,000 at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne
Premier sale. With all the noise being made
about imported staying types, it is really
great to see an Aussie bred champ like
Fawkner winning our second most famous
staying contest. Again, it was at the Inglis
sales that Fawkner first caught people’s
attention.
One article cannot possibly cover the
entire history of Inglis nor can it cover
how the company is run in reference to its
“Grand Armee is very typical of the type of horse
that the Inglis Sales are famous for producing - wellbred nice types that have extraordinary success on
the track.....”
the Ranvet. In the 2004 Queen Elizabeth at
Randwick, Grand Armee famously held off
Lonhro, in what was that champion’s last
start. Grand Armee also made the immortal
Makybe Diva find everything she had to get
past him in the 2005 BMW when the Diva
was virtually unbeatable. This race and the
above mentioned Queen Elizabeth are two
of the most famous races in recent memory
in Sydney.
day to day operations. Nor can one article
cover Gai’s all-time success with graduates from the Inglis sales. Therefore we
have approached the main protagonists at
Inglis - Managing Director Mark Webster
and Strategic Development Director Arthur
Inglis. They both took time out of their hectic schedule to speak with Zeb Armstrong
about their respective roles within the company and about all things Inglis. ▣
Photo by Bradley Photography
Mark Webster
Black Caviar was sold at an Inglis sale. Was there anything at all
different about this filly? Or was she
just another nice filly that was just
the same as all the others?
MW: She was certainly a nice type and well
rated by Inglis staff. Her strong hindquarter
was her obvious feature, but none of us
expected she would be so dominant on the
track.
In a non-sale period, what are your
day to day responsibilities? How
do you go about running one of
the most respected thoroughbred
companies in the world?
MW: Like all CEO’s, I have to manage
a business. This includes overseeing all
departments and assisting my management
team to achieve their business plan objectives for the year. I spend time preparing reports for my Board and developing strategy,
whilst also ensuring day to day challenges
such as debtors are under control.
I also spend significant time networking
with clients and helping to develop new
markets. I travel quite often to Hong Kong,
China and Singapore and enjoy attending
the races all over Australia.
Inglis has had the respect of the
racing industry for over 100 years.
Inglis relies on basic principles of
honesty and integrity to survive
and thrive. How in the 21st century
do you personally maintain these
100 year old principles? Is it getting
harder to maintain the traditions of
the Inglis company?
MW: Regardless of how others behave, the
Inglis company is definitely maintaining its
core principles of honesty and integrity. We
do not offer special deals to some clients
over others. We treat our customers in an
even handed manner and with respect. Unlike other auction houses, Inglis principals
and employees are not major breeders and
do not compete with vendors in the sale
ring. We certainly need to be on our toes
when dealing with some clients, but most
people in our industry are good hearted and
honest.
where they may pop up. Outside of racing,
the most impressive person I have met is
Rupert Murdoch, who was my boss for several years at News Limited. I enjoyed flying
to New York to present new ideas to him,
albeit it was intimidating at times.
How do you become the CEO of
Inglis?
MW: Away from racing I spend much of
my time competing in western riding events
on my two quarter horses. I am also the
President of the Sydney Quarter Horses
Association, and I enjoy this voluntary
work helping others to achieve their dreams
in western performance riding. The best
part about this is that my wife and children
also enjoy this sport, my whole family love
riding. I have no time for golf, but do enjoy
a small flutter when at the races.
MW: When Reg Inglis left the company
about seven years ago the Board set about
finding a successful business person with
knowledge of the racing industry rather
than someone who has spent their entire
life as a bloodstock agent. I seemed to fit
the brief, having managed large media
divisions at News Limited whilst enjoying
breeding and racing on a small scale as
a hobby. I knew enough about the racing
industry to keep me out of trouble, but
my media and technology experience has
certainly helped Inglis to become the most
innovative auction house in the world.
How about Gai Waterhouse? The
Lady Trainer is a force at every sale
in Australia. How do you two get
along? What do you talk about
behind closed doors?
MW: Gai is a wonderful industry asset.
We have open and frank discussions about
How do you spend your time away
from Inglis? Do you enjoy the races?
A punt? How about golf?
Keeping in mind you are still very
young, what is your best memory
to date from your time in racing,
especially at Inglis?
MW: My best moments have been handing
out trophies and winners cheques at the races, in particular when the winning owners
are a syndicate.
When Cavalry Rose won the Inglis
Classic a few years ago and Starspangledbanner won the Inglis Juvenile the feeling
was amazing. So many first time owners
“First time owners cheering, screaming and high
fiving makes it all worthwhile..... ”
all types of issues and opportunities. She
would not mind me saying that I would like
her to buy more yearlings from Inglis sales
in the future noting how successful our
Melbourne Premier and Easter Sales have
been in producing breed shaping graduates
such as Black Caviar, All Too Hard, Fastnet
Rock and Exceed and Excel.
Apart from Gai and other wellknown racing people, have you
ever had a chance meeting with
someone very interesting? Do you
have an amusing story from your
time around the sales ring?
MW: I meet interesting people all of the
time. I don’t get excited about celebrities,
I’d much prefer to meet interesting local
characters at events such as the Kalgoorlie
Cup meeting which we sponsor or at the
races in Mongolia or Royal Ascot. Self
made people with colourful backgrounds
keep me interested and you never know
cheering, screaming and high fiving makes
it all worthwhile. I really think more people
should get involved in horse racing syndicates with licenced syndicators.
Does Inglis have a pretty good idea
what a yearling will go for before it
walks into the ring? Have you had
any major surprises over the last
few years?
MW: We have a reasonable idea on the
price a yearling should make based on
conformation, breeding and their popularity
amongst buyers. Most of the time we come
close, but sometimes we miss completely
and this is typically when a yearling has
bad xrays. We have no access to xrays so
we don’t know what impact they may have
on the final price in the ring. Minor issues
on xrays can actually provide a prospective
buyer with a good discount, as too many
buyers focus on perfection and end up
paying for it. ▣
15
Inglis: 147 Years of excellence cont.....
Arthur Inglis
and Horsezone which are both the leaders
in their field by listings and visitations.
Geographically we constantly expand our
global presence by our overseas marketing
which includes a network of representatives
and our Inglis Asia office.
In your opinion why has Inglis remained the premier sales company
in Australia?
Since 1867 when Inglis was established, the basic principles of honesty and integrity still remain. How
in the 21st century does the company maintain these principles?
AI: It is a people business. We attend to the
selection, recruitment, training and management of all our team. We concentrate on the
development of junior staff in tandem with
senior experienced staff when representing
us out of the office. This is also a matter of
corporate culture. We aim for innovation
while retaining our core values and don’t
find these qualities mutually exclusive.
How about Arthur and Gai? How
is the relationship? Away from the
sales yard, what do you and the
Lady Trainer talk about?
AI: I have known Gai for many years but it
is still a mystery how she finds such bound-
less reserves of energy. She has worked
hard, has well deserved all her success and
been sensational for the profile of racing.
Gai can engage in conversation with anyone
on almost any topic but our chats outside
racing would usually be about family, mutual friends and holiday travel.
How about in recent times? Since
the last glory age of racing in the
‘90s (Super Impose, Let’s Elope and
so on), what are some of the best
horses that have passed under the
hammer at an Inglis sale Australia
wide?
How do you rate Gai as a bidder in
the ring? Ruthless? Conservative?
Her record at the sales speaks for
itself but everyone has their own
style. Does interest slightly spark
up when Gai is going high for a
‘boom’ yearling?
How is Inglis expanding with the
times? Internet bidding and so on?
AI: Yes, technology expands our reach,
efficiency and points of contact. We were
the first in this part of the world with online
bidding and we introduced online xray repository access. We have expanded into the
digital world through Bloodstock.com
Apart from Fastnet Rock who is taking all before him, what other sires
are making a big impact throughout the Inglis sales?
AI: Proven performers like Redoutes
Choice, More Than Ready, Exceed and
Excel, Lonhro, Choisir, Snitzel, High
Chaparral and Street Cry but buyers will
embrace first season sires also. Two examples in recent years are All Too Hard and
Wanted, both of whom were sold by us as
Easter Yearlings.
What is the biggest bargain (sale
price to racetrack earnings or sales
price to stallion sale price) you have
“I have known Gai for many years but it is still a
mystery how she finds such boundless reserves of
energy. She has worked hard, has well deserved all
her success and been sensational for the profile of
racing.....”
Since William Inglis and son purchased
the Newmarket property in 1917, what
are some of the immortal champions
that have set foot in the sales ring?
AI: Heroic, Windbag, Amounis, Flight,
Hallmark, Evening Peal, and Wenona Girl.
AI: Naturalism, Schillaci, Shogun Lodge,
Universal Prince, Fairy King Prawn, Might
and Power and Exceed and Excel. Could
the next ones on this list be recent young
winners Nostradamus and Peggy Jean?
16
AI: We focus on serving the industry fairly
and constantly seeking improvement. We
don’t breed or commercially trade horses,
so we provide absolutely independent advice. We don’t compete with our customers.
We support syndicators and trainers in encouraging growth of racehorse ownership.
Cry colts including, first foals of Typhoon
Tracy and Faint Perfume, the Medaglia
d’Oro half-brother to So You Think, the
full sister to Makybe Diva, or the Redoutes
Choices out of G1 winners like Absolut
Glam, Boundless, National Colour and
Princess Coup.
AI: Gai has so much experience at this
game that the sale ring is like her office.
She doesn’t make a big display of her bids
but nor does she try and disguise them. I am
sure she sets her values and bids accordingly but of course she would have the respect
of other bidders and yes the atmosphere is
electric when she is on the star attractions.
In the upcoming Easter sale are
there any lots that will have a big
‘boom’ about them?
AI: For Easter yes, you could say anything
by Fastnet Rock but how about the Street
seen go through an Inglis Sale?
AI: The best story in recent years is the
Takeover Target story because he was purchased for less than $2000 and was a global
success, taking Joe Janiak to Royal Ascot.
Financially the best overall returns are
on the stallions which have gone through
our ring as Yearlings, following on from
the previous answer. Fastnet Rock could
have been purchased and others who were
sold by us in recent years include Choisir,
Exceed and Excel and the bargain priced
Bel Esprit.
Can you share one funny or unique
story from your time in the family
business? Is there one story that
stands out for you that people might
not have heard?
AI: Just thinking about a few… but they
might have to wait until 20 years after my
demise…
Not wishing to name names but one that
amuses me is the tough take no prisoners,
aggressive champion football player who
asks us to send the invoice to his work post
office address because he was scared what
his wife would do to him if she found out
he had bought another horse. ▣
American John Brocklebank
was a Great Asset to Gai at the
Recent Magic Millions
(MM) Sale
By Rob Waterhouse
J
ohn is recognised as a “pinhook”
star in the United States and Gai
asked him to assist her and be part
of her rigorous selection process.
(Normally a pinhooker is in business buying
horses as foals or weanlings and reselling
them as a yearlings or two-year-olds).
John has an illustrious success record,
validified both in the “ready-to-run” sale
ring and on the racetrack. Could there be
any better credentials than successfully
risking your money?
On the plane home from Europe, Gai
read John’s preliminary notes, and commented to me: “His eye and ‘taste’ are very
similar to mine. We like the same horses.”
(Gai had seen most of the catalogue at the
farms).
18
John was tireless at the MM sales. Apart
from inspecting horses parading, John
likes to ‘watch’ them in the box, getting to
know them. And at all hours. And he is very
effective.
But aside from admiring his undoubted
“eye”, the team really enjoyed his company,
found him very refreshing and loved his
exotic “turn of phrase”.
American education encourages a lot
more class participation by students and
that, I believe, leads to American adults
being much more articulate than “tonguetied” Aussies.
John most certainly fits into the “articulate” American category.
We found John’s ‘language’ a delight.We
all thoroughly enjoyed his descriptions and
marvelled how he often ‘hit the nail on the
head’.
He invariably describes yearlings in
anthropomorphic terms, i.e. as though they
were humans.
We all knew exactly what he meant when
John said of a colt, who had been a bit obnoxious with the handler: “That’s the type
of elementary-school kid that throws gum
in your hair”.
Or, on a more positive note, with horse
perhaps overlooked: “That horse is a pimply, ninth grader (14-year-old) kid. When
he grows up, he is going to be a man.”
And: “This horse would walk over a fire
hydrant.”
John Brocklebank
“He invariably describes
yearlings in anthropormorphic terms..... we all
knew exactly what he
meant when John said
of a colt, who had been
a bit obnoxious with the
handler, “That’s the type
of elementary-school kid
that throws gum in your
hair.....”
John gave us an interesting insight to his
thinking: “Finding horses, especially good
horses, is so hard to do and hours can pass
before you find one that ‘speaks’ to you.”
This has always made me appreciate the
ones I loved and has always made me go
back to those horses just to get that feeling
again, because only a good horse can do
that for you.
John Brocklebank cont.....
“Gai this is a unique horse. He has a huge body, just
a big boy, something that could cause an earthquake; but on the other hand he is so graceful. It is
like he is unaware of his big body, but instead, sees
himself as walking around with a tutu on looking
like a ballerina inside of him..... ”
“On the other hand, some horses have no
class. You know that guy that picks up his
tip from the table when the rest of the dinner party has left the restaurant? Horses can
be like that too. They have a big beautiful
look about them but just don’t have the
class. He has the heart of a mouse. He tells
you all the things you want to hear and you
think you get that feeling from him, but
then you look in the restaurant window and
see him stuffing the tip back into his jacket
pocket.”
“The thing I’ve always found to be most
important is the horse’s ability. I look at it
like scouting a basketball player. Of course,
body and athletic ability are important,
but if you can play, you can play. If you
can dunk a basketball from the free throw
line, I don’t really care if your shoe size is
a seven instead of a twelve.” He described
one unfortunate yearling as: “A potato with
toothpicks stuck into it” and added: “He’d
be better as potato salad!”
John really liked one unobvious lot and
told Gai: “You’ll buy it for a ham sandwich!”
I asked John what he meant: “All I
Logans Name_Ad_180x50_12-11.ai
20
1
meant by that was he won’t cost much more
than a ham sandwich. We all know ham
sandwiches taste good, and they don’t cost
much either.”
Gai bought that “ham sandwich” very
cheaply and is delighted. No doubt, Gai
will improve it with honey mustard (Gai’s
favourite)!
John liked one horse: “Gai, this is a
unique horse. He has a huge body, just a big
5/12/2011
11:38:39 AM
boy, something that could cause an earthquake; but on the other hand he is so graceful. It is like he is unaware of his big body,
but instead, sees himself as walking around
with a tutu on looking like a ballerina inside
of him. He moves like that. A fluid, almost
dancing movement, coming from the body
of a beast, and that kind of made my heart
flutter. And that’s what I’m looking for
from each horse, that kind of flutter.
It’s like when you see a pretty woman
walking down the street and you notice
she’s pretty, but then you see Marilyn
Monroe walking down the street and it’s a
completely different deal. She just has that
thing that separates her.”
We all liked one expression in response
to someone liking a horse that John wasn’t
so sure about, which we think we know
what it means: “I’ve got one eyebrow
raised”.
That doesn’t apply to John. He is a star. ▣
Warrnambool Racing Carnival
Unplugged
By Gai Waterhouse with Zeb Armstrong
I
n late April 2013, I ventured to
the iconic three day Warrnambool
Racing Carnival for the first time…
and it certainly won’t be my last.
The carnival hosts the world famous Grand
Annual Steeplechase together with the
Wangoom Handicap, the Brierly Steeplechase and the Warrnambool Cup. It is a
three day carnival with almost thirty races
spread across the three days. They tell me
also that should a trainer win four races
across the three days including one of the
features, he or she will take home a brand
new car as a bonus. It has never been done,
but plenty have come close.
I have rarely been as ‘taken’ with any
race carnival that I have ever attended.
This is a wonderful, brilliant, terrific one
and a must see three day race meeting for
all lovers of horse racing and in particular
the fans of the magnificent spectacle that
is jumps racing. Warrnambool, for those
who have heard of the town, but never
ventured there, is located at the far western
22
end of the Great Ocean Road. The world
famous Great Ocean Road contains the
natural beauty of the Twelve Apostles,
London Bridge and the Gibson Steps (just
to name a few of the sights off the top of
my head), together with the great towns of
“There is no better late
autumn getaway for
Sydney racing folk in the
Lady Trainer’s humble
opinion, than the
Warrnambool racing
Carnival.....”
Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell, also
just to name a few. The Lady Trainer, my
darling one Rob, Lea and Bruce stayed in
Port Fairy during the carnival last year. Port
Fairy is the hometown of one of my loyal
Gai’s Gazette contributors Zeb Armstrong.
Zeb, after several discussions convinced us
to come to Port Fairy, and I am really glad
we spent our down time in that little fishing
village that is so full of delightful surprises
around every corner.
The carnival runs from Tuesday to
Thursday in the first week of May. In 2014
day one will actually be 29 April, with day
three, the Cup / Grand Annual Day being
Thursday 1 May. I cannot stress enough to
all my owners and anyone who has ever
been intrigued by this carnival, just how
wonderful it is, and urge you to put it in
your diary. I will be back in 2014, hopefully
with a team of horses. At the minute I have
a budding young jumper named Valediction
(Zabeel x Madam Valeta) staying with Eric
Musgrove in preparation for the big Warrnambool jumps races. Eric Musgrove is a
living legend of jumps (and flat) racing, as
is John Wheeler, Ciaron Maher and several
other trainers that I have met over the years.
Actually, I was sitting not three yards from
John Wheeler in the Warrnambool
(Right) Lea, Greg Currie - Deakin University
Hospitality Services Manager, Julie Hope Community Relations Manager Deakin Geelong,
Amy Armstrong - Deakin Warrnambool
all-rounder and Zeb.
Grandstand last year, when his jumper
Banna Strand came from back in the field to
win the 5500m Grand Annual Steeplechase.
When I walked into day one of the meeting on the Tuesday last year, I could not
believe the size of the crowd. I was quickly
marched into a marquee where I was the
guest speaker at a Ladies’ Luncheon. This
room alone had a bigger crowd than most
Wednesday race meetings in Sydney! And
the strength of the betting ring! I went to
visit Rob who was on his stand for three
days straight, and the punters were lined up
three and four deep trying to get on. The
strength of a meeting can be judged on the
strength of the betting ring, and this ring
was as strong as any you will see outside of
a Sydney or Melbourne Carnival day.
The middle day of the Warrnambool
Carnival, the Wednesday last year, saw Zeb
and his beautiful wife Amy together with
Deakin University host a breakfast where I
gave a bit of a talk and from this breakfast
I just knew that the local racing community
was very strong and passionate about the
sport I love. Chairman of the Warrnambool
race club Des Roberts was there, as was
Eric Musgrove plus the mayor of Warrnambool and plenty of the local racing
folk. If nothing else, the three day carnival
is a coming together of a very vibrant
racing community. This, together with the
thousands of visitors make for just the finest
country race meeting imaginable. And for
(Above left) The Ladies at ‘A Breakfast with Gai’ hosted by Amy and Zeb Armstrong together with Deakin
University. From left to right Lee Watson, Lea (editor-in-chief of Gai’s Gazette), the Lady Trainer and
Zeb’s wife, Amy.
the trainers, the prize money is huge. In
2013 the Cup was worth $200,000, the
main sprint, the Wangoom Handicap had a
$151,000 purse and the jewel in the crown,
the Grand Annual Steeplechase contained
$250,000 in prize money. This is a huge
carrot for trainers and together with the atmosphere, the spectacle that is jumps racing
and the absolute fanfare of the local racing
people, a phenomenal carnival is created.
The Thursday is the big day. The Warrnambool Cup and the Grand Annual are
run and for the Grand Annual people spread
from the hill to the grandstand to watch the
race. The 5500m epic twists and winds its
way around the racetrack. The horses even
cross a road and venture into a paddock!
They go past the winning post the Sydney
way of going then comeback the Melbourne
way of going. But what I did notice in
2013 from my vantage point, was that on
the last lap coming down the hill, the hard
right turn is where the race really kicks into
gear. Honestly, this race has to be witnessed
live by everyone at least once. It is simply
unbelievable.
Port Fairy, my town of residence for the
carnival, is steeped in Victorian history
and stunning beauty and it is only around
15 minutes by car from the Warrnambool
racecourse. It has some of the oldest pubs
in Victoria, very affordable accommodation
for all, a sensational hair salon named Trimity owned by young Tennille and several
quality restaurants and coffee haunts. Bella
Claire was my coffee shop of choice and I
can’t recommend it highly enough. Ask for
Michelle. Port Fairy is one of the last towns
on the Great Ocean Road and it is for me,
one of my favourites.
There is no better late autumn getaway
for Sydney racing folk in the Lady Trainer’s
humble opinion, than the Warrnambool
racing Carnival. After The Championships, Warrnambool and Port Fairy via the
breathtaking Great Ocean Road, provide a
three day race meeting, beautiful surroundings, sensational restaurants and bars and
not a dull moment. People from all over
the world converge with the South West
Victorians’ and together they (and I last year
with Lea, Bruce and Zeb) yell and roar and
cheer and bet, enjoy a little drink and watch
very unique, challenging and really good
quality racing.
See you there! ▣
23
Warrnambool 2014
Come and Experience the Internationally acclaimed TAB
Warrnambool May Racing Carnival from 29th - 01 May 2014
The Face of the Carnival is Rebecca Wilde. Rebecca is the
daughter of Bill Wilde and the sister of Symon Wilde, who train in
partnership out of Warrnambool. Rebecca is also the Community
Education and Workforce Development Coordinator for Racing
Victoria. The Ambassador of the Carnival is Bob Charley AO. Bob
has an extensive background in racing including as administrator,
trainer, owner, bookmaker and punter. He is a former Chairman of
the Australian Racing Board and also a member of the Banjo Club.
Bob was Chairman of the Australian Jockey Club from 1992-97,
Chairman of Racing New South Wales in 1997-98 and Chairman of
the Australian Racing Board from 1998 to 2006 and is a passionate
jumps fan.
The Grand Annual Steeplechase is the main race over the three
days, and covers 5500 metres. With 33 obstacles, the race has more
jumps that any other steeplechase in the world.
Approximate crowd figures
Day 1 – 6,500
Day 2 – 7,000
Day 3 – 15,000 to 18,000
Book your package today
Package Includes:
•
•
•
•
High end accommodation for four nights in Warrnambool or Port Fairy
Breakfast on Tuesday morning at the Pavilion Bar & Café overlooking the beach where the horses train.
Membership tickets to all three days of racing.
Warrnambool Racing Club Platinum Package on the Wednesday including a delicious three course meal & a six hour beverage
package.
• Fully Inclusive tickets in a sponsor’s marquee on the Cup Day including a 6 hour beverage package & assorted hot and cold finger
food.
From $1299 per person.
Subject to availability, does not include flights or transportation.
Please email info@gort.com.au to book.
http://visitwarrnambool.com.au
BP
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The best way to commemorate your win
Simply register your details and start purchasing online at www.bradleyphotos.com.au
Contact: 02 4868 1433 • 02 4868 3794
24
Warrnambool Businessman
Colin McKenna on All Things
Racing
Warrnambool businessman, Warrnambool Racing Club committeeman, and allround lover of racing recently took time out of his extremely busy schedule to
speak with Zeb Armstrong. Racing, Warrnambool and the impact of Gai Waterhouse at the Warrnambool races were discussed. Anyone venturing to Warrnambool from Sydney or anywhere for the famous May race Carnival this year will
be made to feel right at home by Colin and his committee. It cannot be stressed
enough that this iconic three-day Carnival is one of the most unique carnivals in
the entire world, and racing fans should attend at least once in their lifetime
By Zeb Armstrong
When did you first get into thoroughbred racing?
Well Zeb, thanks for giving me the chance to be in Gai’s Gazette! I purchased my first horse in 1975 but racing has always been in my blood. My
grandfather was a successful local trainer in the early ‘1900s.
Who are some of the local trainers that you have horses
with?
Ciaron Maher who started training at a small town called Winslow which is
very close to where I live and he went to school with my sons and his family
are friends of mine.
Bill and Simon Wilde trained Hissing Sid for a group of local owners
which I was lucky enough to be part of. This horse won two Warrnambool
Cups which was an unbelievable thrill considering it is my local Cup, also
Michael O’leary, who has won over 250 races for us over many years.
And now Gai?
Yes, I am honoured to have a horse trained by one of the most famous trainers in the world. Certainly the most vibrant trainer I have ever met.
What are some of the better horses you have shares in
that are running around now?
You are a committee man for the Warrnambool Racing
Club. What are your responsibilities at the club?
I am part of an executive team that oversees the operations of the club and
promotes the carnival throughout Australia. Having Gai on board now is a
big help and you and I among many others can be thanked for that! It is a big
job promoting the carnival, but it is a massive help having Gai on side.
What impact did the presence of Gai have on the Warrnambool Racing Carnival 2013?
The impact was unbelievable and ever since, at every function or race meeting I attended, at least one person asks if she will be here again this coming
year. I think her outgoing personality is admired by all and she is a drawcard
for our club. Gai is great for racing worldwide and to hear her say things like
‘the Brierly Steeplechase is a national treasure’ really makes me proud to be
part of the Warrnambool Racing Club.
What is the greatest performance you have ever seen in
a major race on the Warrnambool circuit?
Gregers who ran a nice 4th first up in the Group One Lightning Stakes. Also
Moudre, Girl Guide, Akavoran and a nice youngster named Collins Street.
No doubt the greatest performance was when the jumper Gallywood was
very nearly euthanized after a fall in the 1984 Grand Annual, but he survived
and came back in 1986 to win the race.
What about some of your better horses of all-time?
Would you rather win a Grand Annual or a Cox Plate?
The Fuzz who won a Geelong Cup and a Blamey Stakes.
Moudre who won a Queen’s Cup on the last day of the 2010 Melbourne
Cup Carnival. He also was beaten about two inches by Americain in the
2010 Geelong Cup. Americain went on to win the Melbourne Cup that
year…
Moudre was bred at home by my partner Janice and me as was Gregers.
Pentacolo won a Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank which was an
almighty thrill.
Both! They are different races and different class of horse so not easy to pick.
But in saying so, the Grand Annual would be special
How did you meet Gai Waterhouse?
It needs more Listed races to bring more high class trainers. With Gai coming and maybe Chris Waller, I think we are on the right path. ▣
I met Gai at the 2013 Warrnambool Racing Carnival and a friendship was
26
instantly formed!
In a life involved in racing, what is the greatest horse you
have ever seen in the flesh?
Makybe Diva.
Is the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival continuing to
grow? It seems to be becoming more and more iconic.
Prime Time
with Doug
Bollinger.....
Australian and NSW cricket fast bowler
DOUG BOLLINGER sat down with RIC
CHAPMAN to talk about life, love, cricket
and racing
Gai with Doug Bollinger
By Ric Chapman
What was your most satisfying dismissal at first class
level – and why?
Doug Bollinger: West Indian superstar Chris Gayle, because I ended up
getting five wickets that Test Match and it helped win the series. Satisfying
because Chris can change a game very quickly.
What was your most satisfying dismissal at junior level?
DB: My most satisfying would be getting one of the ‘so called’ young guns
out, that we played against, when I was a kid - and I was not very good at the
time. I think I bowled 3rd change...
Favourite racehorse you have seen?
DB: Would have to be Makybe Diva. She was my first real experience seeing what a horse did to bring a crowd. And how she won in every condition
in the Melbourne Cup....just awesome.”
Best racehorse you have seen?
DB: Pierro and Black Caviar to me were both very special, and so great to
watch for the sheer pace they ran with when asked.”
Is playing in India any fun – other than making money?
With which cricketer would you hate to be trapped on
an Island?
DB: Shane Watson, because I would drive him up a massive palm tree.
How did you get involved in the two-year-old Man of
Distinction?
I really wanted a Fastnet Rock because of the fine offspring that he has
produced in the past few years, and Gai delivered one to me.
What body part of anything re yourself would you
change?
My head. Because I have a head for radio…...ha.
Toughest batter to bowl to – and why?
Hmmm, there are a few - Chris Gale, Virat Kohli, Shane Watson. They have
hit me for some massive sixes.
Which super ability would you most like to have – and
why?
DB: Invisibility, absolutely haha.... who wouldn’t?
DB: Yeah of course it’s fun - but very tough conditions, very different place
to travel and experience. So many strange things from the culture to how
much cricket is loved for the Indian people.
Favourite sports person from any code?
If you were trapped on a tropical island with any woman… who would it be?
Favourite racetrack within Australia?
DB: My Lovely wife - but - if not her hmmm.. Would have to be the actress
Kate Beckinsale.
DB: Phil Mickelson (Golf), Chris Judd (AFL), Gary Abblet Jnr (AFL)...and
of course Gai. That’s why I have horses with her.
DB: Can’t go past Flemington and Randwick because of the history behind
those courses which I like to see and hear about when I go there. ▣
27
The Championships An Initiative of Racing NSW
The newly developed The Championships will be upon us before we know it.
The race series consists of ten races over two consecutive Saturdays and the
prize money for these ten races has been substantially increased from the levels it has been for many years. The races basically remain the same, except that
they have been slightly reshuffled to allow for two great race days. The conditions of the Classic races (some of these races have been run and won for over
100 years) remain the same. The big change is the prize money increases. There
has been a $10 million prize money increase across the race series as well as a
$2.3 million increase for several of the traditional lead-up races
By Zeb Armstrong
D
ay one of The Championships contains the Doncaster
Handicap, the T.J. Smith
Stakes, the Australian Derby
and the Sires’ Produce Stakes. There are
also an additional five support races on
what will be a ground-breaking day of
Australian racing.
The Star Doncaster Mile
This 1600m handicap has long been
regarded as the best mile handicap in
Australia. Now the race contains $3 million
in prize money and has become the world’s
richest 1600m handicap. Gai has famously
won this race seven times and in the mid
‘90s, the Lady Trainer won the race four
times in a row. When going for a historic
fifth win in five years, Gai managed to
run second and third beaten by the Bart
Cummings trained Catalan Opening. Despite missing the iconic ‘five in a row,’ Gai
Impose and Sunline. Gai has 12 horses
nominated for the 2014 Doncaster including Group One winner Romantic Touch
and the highly promising pair Ecuador and
Spurtonic.
Darley T.J. Smith Stakes
Named after Gai’s father, the legendary
Tommy Smith, this open sprint race over
1200m is now the richest open sprint in the
world with prize money of $2.5 million.
Gai has won the race with the likes of Phoenix Park, Shamekha and Bentley Biscuit
and this year Gai has sensational sprinting
types Bull Point, Whittington and Sweet
Idea nominated for the race. The T.J. Smith
Stakes is probably most famous for being
the race where Black Caviar both recorded
her last ever victory and perhaps her greatest victory. Who will ever forget the 2011
T.J. Smith Stakes where a fit and firing Hay
List got away from Black Caviar, but the
“[The Doncaster] has become the world’s richest
1600m handicap. Gai has famously won this race
seven times and in the mid ‘90s, the Lady Trainer
won the race four times in a row..... “
along with her father T.J. Smith are clearly
the two most successful trainers in the
rich history of the Doncaster Mile. Apart
from Gai’s winners that include champions
Grand Armee and Assertive Lad, the race
has been won by most of the best middle
distance horses Australia has ever seen
including Gunsynd, Tobin Bronze, Super
28
mighty mare leaped into action and flew
home in what was one of the greatest races
ever witnessed at Randwick?
BMW Australian Derby
What more has to be said about this
race? It has been won by all the greatest staying types Australia has ever seen
including inaugural Hall of Fame inductees
Phar Lap, Tulloch and Kingston Town. Peter Pan and Bonecrusher are also previous
winners and in 1996 Octagonal won the
race in record time. In winning the 1996
Australian Derby Octagonal had to get past
not just Filante, but VRC Derby winner
and Waterhouse trained Nothin’ Leica Dane
as well as the Melbourne Cup – Cox Plate
winning Saintly. It was a tremendous race.
In the upcoming Australian Derby, Gai has
eight nominations including Woodbine and
Equator who are both very high up in the
early markets.
Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes
This Classic race for two-year-olds has
been a favourite for Tulloch Lodge horses
in the 21st century. In fact, of the last 14
Sires’ run and won in Sydney, Gai has won
7. Winning half of the last 14 Sires’ is a
great achievement; in fact it is an unprecedented achievement. In 2012 Pierro won
the Sires’ on his way to becoming just the
sixth horse to win the Sydney Triple Crown
for Juveniles (the Golden Slipper, the Sires’
and the Champagne Stakes). Pierro joined
the likes of Ajax, Baguette, Shannon and
Luskin Star as a winner of this great race.
Perhaps the best edition ever of the Sires’
took place in 1957. This year saw the match
up of the greatest two-year-old of all-time
Todman against one of the greatest allround horses in Australian racing history,
Tulloch. Tulloch won! On this day in the
Autumn of 1957 we had arguably two of
the best ten horses to ever set foot on the
Australian turf run against each other and it
all took place in the time honoured Sires’.
The Championships - An Initiative of Racing NSW cont.....
D
ay two of The Championship will see six great races
take place thus concluding
The Championship race
series. These six races are the Queen
Elizabeth Stakes, the Schweppes Sydney
Cup, the Australian Oaks, the Queen of the
Turf Stakes, the Royal Sovereign Stakes
and the newly renamed Royal Randwick
Stakes. The Sapphire Stakes, the South
Pacific Classic and the Fernhill Handicap
will make up the card on day two of this
fantastic two day race series.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes
This 2000m Classic is now the richest ten furlong race on turf in the world.
It is also now the second richest race in
Australia (behind the Melbourne Cup). Gai
has captured this race four times in the last
ten years - twice with Grand Armee, once
with More Joyous and once with the giant
gelding Desert War. These three champions
join the likes of Tulloch who won the race
three times, and Might and Power who won
the race in 1998 by 10.5 lengths, on the
honour role of this wonderful race. In the
2007 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, big Desert
War started second favourite for Gai. All
the rage was about the Doncaster winner
and ‘boom’ colt Haradasun. But Desert
War got out in front and rolled along as he
pleased. When the whips were cracking,
the colt loomed up, but Desert War just
did what he did best and lifted his tempo
ever so slightly and he won with his ears
30
pricked. It was a great win in a terrific race
and a real exclamation mark on what was
a great career from a horse that now has a
stable named after him.
Schweppes Sydney Cup
The Sydney Cup clearly needed a revamp and now with $1 million on the line,
we can expect many of Australia’s and even
the world’s best two milers to make a Beeline for Randwick. This race now offers
a perfect incentive for an up and coming
twice (1889 – 1890). Like Carbine, Kingston Town who won the race in 1980, won
as a three-year-old. Galilee won the race in
1967 and in doing so became the only horse
to ever win the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne
Cup – Sydney Cup treble in one year. In
recent years, Tie the Knot has won the
Sydney Cup twice and who will ever forget
Makybe Diva winning the 2004 edition
in-between her first and second Melbourne
Cups. One thing is for sure… this year’s
edition will be brilliant!
Kingston Town (Above left) was the first to win
the Sydney Cup as a Group 1 race in 1980. Desert
War (Above right) won the 2007 Queen Elizabeth
Stakes “with his ears pricked.....”
stayer in which to compete. A win would
get the horse’s name up in lights (and in the
weights) for the upcoming Melbourne Cup.
Also, two miles is a ‘Classic’ racing distance and a specialist’s distance. The Sydney Cup is one of very few two mile races
left in Australia and with $1 million on the
line, the race looks set to be re-established
as one of Australia’s great handicaps. Gai
won this race in 1997 with the remarkable
stayer Linesman. Apart from Linesman this
race has been won by many a great stayer
over the years. The Barb, Australia’s first
immortal champion, won the race twice
(1868 – 1869). Carbine also won the race
Australian Oaks
A win in the Oaks is a dream for many
breeders. Whereas the VRC Oaks comes
around fairly quickly for the fillies, and
generally a non-staying type can win on
pure class, to win the Australian Oaks, a
filly must be both classy and have a great
deal of stamina.
This 2400m staying test is now one of
the richest Oaks races in the world and in
2014 the race promises to be one to remember. Gai has won this race in the past with
the likes of Sunday Joy and Once Were
Wild and the Lady Trainer has also gone
close on plenty of other occasions.
The Championships - An Initiative of Racing NSW cont.....
I
Star Thoroughbreds’ Danglissa winning the Queen of the Turf Stakes
move to autumn looks as if it will generate
an absolutely terrific race.
Royal Randwick Stakes
Moved from February to The Championships, this 1200m sprint for three-year-olds
has been somewhat of a stallion making
race over the years. Winners of the race
include modern day super-sires Lonhro and
Exceed And Excel as well as Theseo’s dad
and sires of sires’ Danewin. Gai has won
the race with stable favourites and champions Dance Hero and Assertive Lad and this
year the Lady Trainer has eight horses nominated among the 103 total nominations.
32
Super-Sires Exceed and Excel
(above) and Lonhro (below) are
among the champions to have
won the Royal Sovereign Stakes...
Royal Sovereign Stakes
Queen of the Turf Stakes
This race moves from Rosehill to
Randwick and now will be run over 1600m
instead of 1500m. A 1600m race at Randwick for fillies and mares. Perfect. The
mile start at Randwick is one of the most
famous in the world, and with a plethora
of great fillies and mares in Australia at
the moment, this race promises to be a real
classic. Gai has won this race several times
including a win by the multiple Group One
winning Star Thoroughbreds’ Danglissa. Inevitably, the best horse generally wins this
race. Mares like Divine Madonna, Typhoon
Tracey and Forensics have all started favourite in this race in recent years and won
accordingly. It is fantastic to have another
great Group One race run at Randwick over
the famous Randwick mile and with 107
nominations for the 2014 edition including
7 from Gai, the race promises to be one of
the highlights of The Championships.
t is a very hard race to win with
good reason… to get a filly to
sprint at the end of 2400m towards
the end of their three-year-old season is no mean feat and as such any winner
of this race is very deserving. Winners of
this race include the immortal Light Fingers, Triscay and the classy and still very
competitive Streama. Perhaps the greatest
winner of the race ever has been Surround.
This brilliant filly in her three-year-old year
won the Caulfield Guineas - not the Thousand Guineas for fillies, but the Caulfield
Guineas. She then went on to win the Cox
Plate (still the only filly to ever win the
Cox Plate) before venturing to Sydney in
the autumn to win the Australian Oaks very
easily. Then in a display of complete dominance, Surround went to Brisbane and won
the Queensland Oaks. Gai currently has
seven horses nominated for the Australian
Oaks including recent seven length winner
Amanpour and the very impressive Forever
Loved.
At the bottom of the nomination sheet,
the name Zoustar appears so the race is
going to be a tough one to win. Most of the
best sprinting three-year-olds in Australia
are nominated for this race, and as such, the
This race was originally named the Keith
Mackay Stakes, but with a move to The
Championships, the race has undergone
a name change and has received a huge
increase in prize money. The race is over
1200m for two-year-old fillies and it promises to be a cracker this year with 126 nominations including a massive 15 nominations
from Gai. In 2003 a filly named Shamekha
ran second in this race beaten less than an
inch after getting held up in the straight.
Despite the loss, this race really kick started
Shamekha’s career - a career that culminated in a wonderful Group One win in which
she beat Fastnet Rock. Interestingly enough
five years after Shamekha and Fastnet Rock
faced off and ran the quinella in a Group
One race, they met again in the breeding
barn. The result was Shahad, which Gai
trains and is a filly with a huge chance in
one or two of The Championship races.
Needless to say the Royal Randwick Stakes
has produced plenty of quality on the track
and in the breeding ranks over the years and
2014 will be no different. In fact with the
elevation of the race, don’t be surprised if
an absolute champion juvenile jumps out of
this race.
The Championships start on Saturday
12 April 2014 and end on Saturday 19
April 2014. The ten races all deserve their
place as a ‘Championship’ race and the
ten winners will all be very special horses.
Gai has a big hand in every race and with
the stable flying and plenty of other great
horses around, the two day race series
cannot come around quickly enough. It will
be fantastic. ▣
RECENT WINNERS
Fiorente (Monsun x Desert Bloom)
Peter Young Stakes
Caulfield
22 Feb, 2014
Photo by Mark Gatt
Fighting Sun (Northern
Meteor x Irish Darling)
Canonbury Stakes
Rosehill Gardens
15 Feb, 2014
Photo by Lisa Grimm
34
Sweet Idea (Snitzel x Flidais)
1200m Stakes
Royal Randwick
22 Feb, 2014
Valentia (Fastnet Rock x
Smart Company)
1200m Handicap
Randwick
22 Feb, 2014
Photo by Lisa Grimm
Ecuador (High Chaparral
x Bak Da Princess)
1400m Handicap
Rosehill Gardens
01 March, 2014
35
How old are you?
I turned 23 in January. I also got engaged to
my fiancé on the 1st of January.
Have you set a date yet?
Yes, 9 August 2015 will be the big day.
What is it like to be one of Gai
Waterhouse’s top jockeys?
Tommy after winning the
2013 Golden Slipper
Tommy Berry
Hot on the heels of the autumn riches, top jockey
Tommy Berry touched down in Sydney just days after reuniting his partnership with Designs on Rome
for a sensational victory in the Hong Kong Classic
Cup at Sha Tin and somehow remembered to give
me a call. We spoke of Golden Slippers, his eighth
Group 1 win, wedding plans, and a Derby and a
Melbourne Cup in his sights. Berry, just turned
twenty three in January appears a confident yet
modest young man with a very big future within his
grasp
By Madison Whant
36
It is great. Gai is a great mentor. She always
fills you with confidence and picks you up
when you are down. Gai isn’t just a trainer
to me. She helps you with everyday life,
not just racing. It is like going to school
every day with Gai in that there is always
something new to learn. She is the best boss
I have worked for in my short career.
How long have you been riding
for Gai?
I have been with Gai for about three years
now. I started riding horses at 14, riding
trackwork for Paul Kaye. I was then an
apprentice to my father at 16. I worked for
my dad throughout my entire apprenticeship
and only went to Gai towards the end of it.
Does your lifestyle involve a lot
of travel?
In a word, yes! In the last couple of years
I have travelled and competed in the Melbourne, Queensland and Sydney carnivals.
Last year I was given the opportunity to
travel overseas and compete at an international level in Hong Kong and Singapore.
In Singapore I rode for Michael Freeman
at the Gold Cup race meeting. I had seven
rides for the day and was lucky enough to
ride Propias in the Gold Cup and win. The
Gold Cup is Singapore’s biggest Group 1
race of the year.
Tommy Berry
What was it like donning your
silks for the very first time?
I was very excited and nervous for my first
race meeting. I had the whole family there
on the day, and didn’t want to let them
down. It was also my brother Nathan’s first
race meeting. We both missed the kick and
ran second and second last. That day we
certainly learned that this career wasn’t
going to be easy, but everything has picked
up since then.
What is it like to compete
against your brother?
Nathan is my biggest competitor. Despite
being rivals, we are also big supporters
of each other and certainly very happy to
see each other win races. We are forever
cheering each other on, but if we are in the
same race together it is always a competition - there is nothing better than beating
your brother that is for sure.
How many Group 1’s have you
won so far?
Is there a jockey you admired
growing up that had a significant impact on your decision to
follow the same path?
Overreach is easily the best sprinter I
have ever ridden. As for the stayers, John
Moore’s Military Attack is up right there
with Gai’s Fiorente and Glencadam Gold.
There are a few. Early on in my career I
admired Rodney Quinn very much. He had
great talent and is a really nice bloke on and
off the track. He is always happy to give
you advice and have a chat with you.
Darren Beadman has also helped me
quite significantly through the years.
More recently however Nash Rawiller
Tommy on Ecuador in the 1400m Handicap on March 1st
After Sunday it is eight.
What is the best horse you have
ridden so far?
What has been your most memorable race?
Winning the Golden Slipper by far. The
Slipper is the pinnacle of Sydney racing and
being able to do that at 22 years of age has
definitely been the highlight of my career
so far.
“It’s not just about the way you ride a horse, it is
about the way you present yourself, and communicate with everyone in the industry..... if you can
have a great attitude and be an OK rider you will get
a long way..... “
and Craig Williams have had a big impact
on my life. Nash is one of the best riders in
the country and Craig Williams is a freak.
It doesn’t matter what part of the world he
goes to, he rides at the top level every time.
What advice would you give a
younger rider starting out as an
apprentice jockey?
It’s not just about the way you ride a horse,
it is about the way you present yourself, and
communicate with the owners, trainers and
everyone in the industry.
You can be an exceptional rider and have
a bad attitude and not make it anywhere in
life. But if you can have a great attitude and
be an OK rider you will get a long way.
What about other sports or activities? Any you enjoy?
I enjoy fishing with my brother. I am not
very good at it but I love to go out and
give it a go. It is a nice quiet time for me
to enjoy the peace and spend time with my
brother. We can chat about racing and get
everything off our chests.
Last year you spent some time in
Hong Kong, how did that come
about?
I was invited by the Hong Kong Jockey
Club. The club selects young riders from
Australia every year and invites them to
ride in Hong Kong. They are looking for
young talent, riders capable of riding at the
top level and that have achieved a lot in a
short amount of time. At the time, I had just
won the Sydney Apprentice Premiership
before I started with Gai. I had also had a
good run of Group 1’s winning the Golden
Rose, the Metropolitan and the Epsom
before winning the Golden Slipper a short
time after.
When they called me and asked if I was
interested I didn’t hesitate. It paid off too –
my first meeting in Hong Kong I was just
three or four hours off the plane and I won
the Group One QII on Military Attack for
John Moore.
During my time in Hong Kong I only
had one meeting without a winner, and I
won seven of their feature races in just ten
weeks.
What benefits did you gain from
this experience?
Going over there and riding for new trainers, in a new country I didn’t know, with
new horses and people and different tracks
taught me a lot.
Moving away from familiar surroundings, from your friends and family, teaches
you to grow up quite fast, especially at my
age. I learnt a lot about life itself while
I was there doing things on my own and
having to work well with people I did not
know. I really enjoyed my time over there.
Hong Kong has a great foundation and one
of the things I love about it is the excitement and the atmosphere. The crowds are
always there to cheer you on.
Who was your most memorable
horse in Hong Kong?
Military Attack, Designs on Rome and Able
Friend. Designs on Rome and Able Friend
both had their first starts in Hong Kong and
are now both Group 1 winners. I will go
back to compete on Designs on Rome in the
Derby on March 16th.
37
Tommy Berry cont.....
Tommy on Glencadam Gold
Describe the training style in
Hong Kong. How is it different to
Australian training?
The training style in Hong Kong is very
similar to Australia’s. I rode a lot for
Australian trainer John Moore, and also
Australian based trainer John Size. Both are
top trainers in Hong Kong and have similar
methods. A lot of the Chinese and other
trainers from abroad have taken bits and
pieces of these Australian methods too so I
don’t think it is very different.
How would you describe your
riding style?
I think of myself as an aggressive rider. I
am very versatile however. I have learnt to
ride horses in front since I started with Gai,
but I am also just as comfortable and enjoy
coming from behind. Riding with the likes
of Nash Rawiller, Mark Newnham, Neil
Payne and Jason Lee has been a great help
in this process. There is always a tactical
way to do things, and I consider myself a
bit of an all-rounder but I do enjoy riding
in front.
You dictated terms in last year’s
Golden Slipper on the Waterhouse trained filly Overreach,
how is the field shaping up this
year and who will you be riding?
Unfortunately it has all changed for me. I
was on Fighting Sun who was one of our
top chances for the Slipper this year but he
has been retired to stand at Eliza Park Stud.
It was definitely a disappointment - Fighting Sun is a really nice colt who I have a lot
of time for.
However there are plenty of nice colts in
Gai’s stable still to come this autumn.
38
Law is one and there are also the likes of
Wandjina. I have a lot of time for these
two colts and I am looking forward to
seeing how they progress heading towards
the Golden Slipper. Hopefully I will get a
chance to ride one of them.
Your form is on fire at the moment. You started the year off
with a treble on the Gold Coast
at the Magic Millions and you
are currently leading the premiership. How are you feeling
about the rest of the season?
I am feeling very confident. I always feel
confident riding for Gai because she has a
lovely team of horses with nice hopes for
the Autumn Carnival. Ecuador is a leading
chance for the Doncaster.
I will however finish off the autumn in
Hong Kong for three months which will
mean I will miss out on the premiership
again this year. I also chose to do this last
year – I do enjoy racing in Australia and the
excitement of the premiership but right now
I am looking forward to getting back to
Hong Kong and furthering my experience
overseas.
You finished off a hat-trick at
Rosehill on 15 February, with a
quick trip to Hong Kong and a
run at the Group 1 Hong Kong
Classic Cup at Sha Tin on the
John Moore trained Designs on
Rome. How did you go?
I won the Hong Kong Classic, beating
Able Friend. These are two of the best
horses in Hong Kong at the moment. Both
are leading contenders heading toward the
Derby in March. Designs on Rome is defi-
nitely my favourite horse over there.
You are certainly hitting a peak
in your career, how does it feel
to do so at just 23-years-old?
It is quite overwhelming. I have been able
to accomplish in five years what I thought
as a kid I would accomplish in my entire
career. All the trainers and owners that have
supported me have been fantastic.
I have always been close to my parents
and have a great respect from them. They
always taught me to be mature for my age
and I believe you have to be in this industry.
I have done my best to keep my feet on the
ground and still maintain an edge. I have always worked hard and not expected things
to just fall into my lap so I guess having
that approach to my life has definitely taken
me a long way in my career.
Are there any titles that you
have previously missed out on,
that you have your eye on for
the future?
Winning the Sydney Premiership is definitely something I want to concentrate on. I
was leading the premiership last year when
I went to Hong Kong and I am leading now,
but planning on finishing off the Autumn
Carnival in Hong Kong again. Broadening
my experience overseas is very important
to me at the moment and hopefully I get
a chance at the premiership again in the
future.
I have also ridden in the Melbourne Cup
a few times now and would love to conquer
that race. Winning the Golden Slipper is the
pinnacle of Sydney Racing and I’d love to
win a Cup as it is the pinnacle of Melbourne Racing. ▣
A Family Affair
Steve Bruhn is currently a part-owner of
New Zealand imports, Domesday x Cashcade and Rip Van Winkle x Bak Da Princess.
He also owns a share in Another Al and with
his wife owning a share in 3 year old filly, My
Girl Charlie, and his son owning a share in
Masahiko, it really has become a family affair. Steve has got horse racing in his blood
and through a four year association with
Gai, he has already had a great deal of success and it looks as though there could be
plenty more in the future
Steve and Leanne
Bruhn
By Emma Pearce
Tell us a little about yourself?
I run a general insurance franchise in Pakenham, Victoria. That
takes up most of my time but I am an avid supporter of Richmond
Football Club so during my spare time, I like to attend as many
matches as I can. My wife Leanne and I are members and we try
to go every week. The rest of my leisure time is spent watching
TVN and going racing or even down to the sales. That’s where I am
heading later this afternoon.
What got you interested in horse racing in the first
place?
I have been punting since I was nine or ten years old. I grew up in
Mount Gambier and my family have always been involved in horse
racing. My uncles were jockeys and rode track work regularly and I
believe that my grandfather was a clerk of the course. I was always
around the race track when I was growing up. Horse racing is in my
blood. My mum actually worked at the local TAB at one stage, as
did my wife. I didn’t have much hope did I?!
When did you own your first horse with Gai?
I bought a small share in quite an expensive colt called Niagara that
Gai bought from Coolmore at Magic Millions back in 2010.
“Horse racing is in my blood.....”
He raced twice at Canterbury as a two year old, finishing fourth and
second respectively and then came back as a three year old where
he broke his maiden before going on to finish third in the Group
3 Norman Robinson Stakes and second in the Group 2 Sandown
Guineas, just missing out on the win in both races by the shortest
of margins. As a four year old, he was just touched off in the Listed
Eskimo Prince first up and then came back to record a three and a
half length victory in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes. He now stands at
Lime Country Thoroughbreds in New Zealand as their foundation
40
stallion and will have his first foals on the ground later this year.
I have been taking shares in horses with Gai ever since.
You’re from Victoria so what appealed to you
about having horses with Gai?
I liked the idea of racing horses in another state, as well as Victoria
but it was mostly about the horse, Niagara. My son Adam, saw this
Encosta De Lago x River Song colt and said it was the best bred
horse in the catalogue. He descends from the dam line that has produced Redoute’s Choice, Umatilla and Hurricane Sky so when the
colt was knocked down to Gai, I told Adam that if he was willing to
pick up the phone and make the enquiry, I would consider it.
Is he the best horse you have ever owned?
He is certainly one of them but I am also a share holder in Fat Al
who won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap. Amaethon and Eraset are
two great horses that I have down in Melbourne and they just keep
backing up year in year out. On the eve of doing this interview,
I realised that I have been owning horses for ten years and have
had over fifty winners around the country. That’s more than five
winners each year so I really am quite happy with that.
You have recently bought into a couple of horses
from New Zealand. Is winning a Melbourne Cup or
other staying races the ultimate dream for you?
Originally I wanted fast two year olds but I have become more
and more interested in horses with a staying pedigree. If you miss
the start with a stayer, you are still in with a shot and most of the
major races in Australia are over a distance. The Cox Plate is the
race I would love to win above all else because usually the best
weight-for-age horse in Australia wins the Cox Plate. That may
have changed a little in recent years with more and more horses
travelling over from Europe to contest our most prestigious staying
races but I still believe that if you win the Cox Plate, you have the
best weight-for-age horse in the country and that would be a real
dream come true for me. ▣
HINCHINBROOK
Exciting sire prospect – by Fastnet Rock from
“speed” 2YO family
Brilliant 2YO – won first two starts, first
COLT home in Golden Slipper (4th)
¾ brother to Snitzel, a leading first and second
season sire.
Impressive First season crop of yearlings
I AM INVINCIBLE
Leading 1st season sire
2 stakeswinners
21.8 times return on service fee for Magic
Millions yearlings
Brilliant 1st crop in Bassillique, Vinnie Eagle
and Tetsuko
MAGIC ALBERT
Proven sire
Total outcross from Danehill and sir Tristam
16 stakes winners and 27 stakes wins
Progeny are tough, honest, versatile with great
longevity
Travolta enjoying a spa in Randwick stable Desert War
Even horses, dogs and camels love a Spa and Hydroco is the company that
delivers....
By Lea Stracey
W
e humans love a pamper
and that’s why when
seeking accommodation
for one’s holiday (for me
at least) the word “spa” must feature on the
list of the hotel/resort facilities!
We visit spas for reasons of health and
well-being and we associate the word “spa”
with water treatments. Since early Greek
and Roman times and possibly even before,
man (or woman) has believed in the curative powers of mineral water. He (or she)
bathed in these spas as an effective cure for
ailments, for one’s physical and spiritual
purification.
The term “Spa” originated from Aquae
Spadanae, which was a Belgian town under
Roman rule and is now known as Spa.
The story goes that the mantra of those
times was “Sanitas Per Aquam” or “Health
Through Water” which possibly gave
rise to the acronym Spa – true or not, it is
appropriate.
Fast forward to today to a company
42
named Hydroco which was started twelve
years ago in Victoria by Brian Gay. Initially, Brian supplied spa equipment nationally
and then internationally for resorts, spas
and hospitals for us humans. He says “the
horse side developed after I started making
underwater recovery treadmills for dogs”.
Amazingly, Brian also makes hydrotherapy
equipment for camels, mostly selling in
places like Dubai and Qatar – see the chanel
10 news piece on youtube by typing in
‘camel capers hydroco’.
I was interested specifically in learning
about his ThoroughCHILL Salt Water Spa
which can be seen at Gai’s stables. Brian
explained he used the scientific basis and
known practice for recovery in elite athletes
to create his equipment. We have all heard
of the cold ice baths taken by our rugby
players after their long hard sessions on the
oval. For soft tissue injury after strenuous exercise, the icy cold water reduces
swelling and settles any inflammation. The
movement of the water also helps dissipate
the heat and decrease the inflammation.
Gai, who always has the best interest and
wellbeing of her horses in mind has invested in two of these Spas (one for her Sydney
stable and one for her Melbourne stable) as
a recovery method after fast work or when
there might be an issue after track work.
The ThoroughCHILL Salt Water Spa
facilitates better circulation and aids in
faster repair. Though more expensive than
the old fashioned ice filled rubber boot in
which the horse’s foot was placed, the Salt
Water Spa is a much easier, faster and more
effective method of cooling a horse’s limbs.
One thing we can say for sure – what is
good enough for us is certainly also good
enough for our horses.
Currently, Brian has projects in Turkey,
Russia and Korea, but the most appealing
part of his business is that he has scored a
run for Australian manufacturing. In this
climate of loss of Australian owned and run
businesses Brian operates a small company
in Melbourne that builds specialist equipment, sells it successfully here and all over
the world and is proudly Australian. ▣
Sanitas
Per
Aquam

Gai`s Gazette - Gai Waterhouse

Transcription

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