Gai`s Gazette - Gai Waterhouse

GAI’S GAZETTE
15th Edition / November 2014
Surprise!
Cover photo: Karon Photography
EDITOR-IN-CHIEf
Lea Stracey
CONTRIBUTORS
Gai Waterhouse
Rob Waterhouse
Zeb Armstrong
Lea Stracey
Madison Whant
Petrea Vela
Joe Callan
Graphic design & layout
Madison Whant
mclarewhant@hotmail.com
chief photographer
Bradley Photographers
www.bradleyphotos.com.au
Editorial Photographer
Amanda Wood
Need for Steed Aus
www.needforsteed.com.au
Advertisers
Trivett Aston Martin
Ranvet
Ambassador Travel
Victoria Racing Club
New Zealand Bloodstock
Magic Millions
Coolmore
Bradley Photographers
Round Table Racing
Yarraman Stud
Advertising Manager
Ric Chapman
ricchapman1@gmail.com
PrINTERS
Graphic Impressions
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GAI’S
GAZETTE
W
elcome to our
latest edition of Gai’s
Gazette. We are very
proud of the newly
painted horse float at Gai Waterhouse
Racing. So much so, in fact, that we
thought its fun and cheeky image would
be an unexpected surprise on our front
cover for you. As you will see inside
these pages, I spoke with Wayne
Harrison of Advanced Airbrush
Australia, who, with his artistic eye and
dextrous hand has created a wonderful
advertisement for GWR. You will be
surprised also to realize that you will
know quite a bit of his work and probably are totally unaware of its creator.
Al Maher is a stallion dear to Gai’s heart. Al Nader (pictured here with me) hopes
to follow in the footsteps not only of his father, but of his sons Almalad, Fat Al and
Kinnersley to name a few.
This month, as well as his regular features Zeb interviews Rob McClure, owner
of Morning Rise Stud who talks of his passion for horse racing and his exciting and
successful commitment to the stayers packages that are offered at Tulloch Lodge. Zeb
also gives his thoughts on some of the entrants in this year’s Melbourne Cup and TJ and
Gai’s successes in this race.
Learning the ins and outs of appropriate racewear from the experts, especially at
Carnival time is very helpful for many ladies. Madison shares her findings from Kate
Waterhouse who discusses her thoughts on the latest trends and on her new focus in
life, baby Sophia.
Big congratulations to Gai for training not only Hampton Court to win the Spring
Champion Stakes but also two-year-old Pierrette, who tenaciously won the first race
of Spring Champion Stakes day in the TAB Betting Season Plate. This homebred has
given her owners the thrill of a lifetime in her very first race and Gai is enthusiastic
about her potential as you will see. Another beautiful son of Monsun, Excess Knowledge bought by Bruce Slade of RTR for his clients, has also shown the potential of an
exciting Melbourne Cup prospect of the future. Finally, Sweet Idea shows us that buying her really was a sweet idea when she broke through the $2m prize money barrier in
winning the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield.
The racing focus has moved to Melbourne and in between training the horses and attending the races, Gai, accompanied by her trusty scribe has already begun her yearling
stud visits in the Southern Highlands and of course, country Victoria in preparation for
the Magic Million Sales on the Gold Coast in January. After Cup Week, the the Hunter
Valley and Queensland await. More on this in the next issue.
May the Spring Carnival in Melbourne be special for us all.
‘Til next time.
Lea
Editor-in-Chief
Contents
© Bradley Photographers
Pierrette
Page 37
Excess Knowledge
Page 6
Page 6 Performance of the Month:
Excess Knowledge
Pages 8-9 From the Pen of the Lady Trainer
Pages 10-12 Colour Me Lucky... by Bruce Slade
Pages 14-15 Seeking Stayers for the Holy Grail in
Racing... by Zeb Armstrong
Pages 16-17
Of Pinfiring, Blistering, Bleeding, Lead © Need for Steed Aus
and Mud... by Lea Stracey
Pages 20-23 My Date with Kate... by Madison Whant
Pages 24-25
News from Across the Tasman: A
Red-letter Day for the Kiwis...
by Petrea Vela
Pages 26-28
An Interview with Horse Owner Rob McClure... by Zeb Armstrong
Page 29 Get the Facts Straight... by Rob Waterhouse
Pages 30-31
Wayne Harrison, a Man Able to Airbrush Anything... by Lea Stracey
Winners are Grinners... by Joe Callan
Page 34
And from YOU...
Page 35 Track Snaps... by Amanda Wood
Pages 36-37
Recent Winners
© Bradley Photographers
Yosei
Page 26
Page 32 www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
5
Performance of the Month:
Excess Knowledge
By Zeb Armstrong
P
icking this month’s performance
of the month was no easy feat.
Gai has been training winners
left, right and centre. The stable is
winning races in Melbourne, Sydney and all
around the place. There have been doubles,
trebles, Group 1 wins, Group 2 wins and
several Listed victories since we last went
to print. So, where to look this month for
the performance of the month? Rarely do
the European imports power to the line
after suffering a slight hold up. They like
the open galloping room, and do their best
work when let loose down the outside.
However on Saturday 18 October, from
back on the fence with horse flesh all
around him, Excess Knowledge (Monsun x
Quenched) had to change direction, before
being again balanced to emerge late in the
race and power to the line. It was a tremendous win from a horse that is really going
places. He has not put a foot wrong this
time in and the sky might just be the limit
in regards to his potential. Excess Knowledge gets the nod (just!) this month for the
Performance of the Month Award.
From the inside barrier, Tim Clark
bounced his mount out of the barriers and
before too long, the entire was enjoying his
gallop on the rail while going at a nice pace.
There were no shifts in momentum during
the run, which allowed Excess Knowledge
to remain balanced and content for the majority of the race. Upon straightening, the
former European was absolutely bolting;
all he needed was a touch of luck and for
“He showed everyone
that he has plenty of
speed and he is
anything but a grinding
one paced stayer...”
a run to present itself, and he was going to
be very hard to hold out. Tim Clark did not
panic, and eventually the Group 1 winning
hoop managed to peel his mount off the
rail, and aim him at the finishing line. However in being extracted from the rail, Excess
Knowledge had his balance and momentum
interrupted, and he had to start again. In just
200m, Excess Knowledge pinned his ears
back, picked up and flew to the line to win
going away by 0.2 lengths.
While the margin was not great, the style
of the win certainly was. It is hard for any
horse, let alone a European import to have
to rebalance and again accelerate in such
a short period of time. Excess Knowledge
managed to do it relatively easily and in
the process he showed everyone that he
has plenty of speed and he is anything but
a grinding one-paced stayer. He has a huge
future ahead of him, and this win will do
the entire’s confidence the world of good.
Congratulations to Round Table Racing
and all the owners of this striking son of
Monsun. The entire is doing everything
right and he is only going to get better and
better. It has taken him a little while to
become completely acclimatised, but now
that he has, he is definitely heading in the
right direction.
Well done also to Tim Clark on a very patient and confident ride. Tim did not panic
in the straight, and when the gap eventually
came, Tim did not hesitate and managed to
get his mount out in plenty of time to record
a thrilling victory. ▣
Excess Knowledge winning the Bartier Perry Handicap
on Saturday 18, October
© Need for Steed Aus
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© Jamie Payne
From the Pen of the
Lady Trainer
I have been able to accept VRC Chairman Michael Burn’s
invitation to pass over the Melbourne Cup on race day. No I am
not giving Fiorente’s 2013 Melbourne Cup away as the owners
would Storm the Bastille! I am honoured to be handing the 2014
Melbourne Cup over to this year’s winning connections...
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Lea Stracey, Gai and Alexia, Emirates Ambassador, in a horse-drawn
carriage at the Melbourne Cup parade
© Jamie Payne
H
ave you ever been on a rollercoaster? This is exactly what
the Melbourne spring carnival
entails. The ups and the downs
are like nothing else. The moment you, the
racegoer gets off your plane, boat, car or
train, you know you are in Melbourne. The
poster, the flags and the billboards tell you
the races are on and it is simply brilliant.
The VRC do it brilliantly. In 2013, with the
European bred stayer Fiorente (Monsun x
Desert Bloom) I managed to achieve the
ultimate. Now I can embrace the pageant more than I have in previous years.
My main Cup hope The Offer, has been
scratched, but he will be back bigger and
better than ever. It is just a slight muscle
strain that is keeping him out of this year’s
Cup.
I have been able to accept VRC Chairman Michael Burn’s invitation to pass over
the Melbourne Cup on race day. No I am
not giving Fiorente’s 2013 Melbourne Cup
away as the owners would Storm the Bastille! I am honoured to be handing the 2014
Melbourne Cup over to this year’s winning
connections. The VRC and Channel Seven
cover the four day carnival so very well.
Come 3pm on the first Tuesday of November, the lead up to the race will be complete
and some 700 million plus people from
over 120 countries will be watching the
race. I have the select privilege of passing
the Cup along and at around 3.20pm, a
new set of lucky connections will have the
Cup held aloft. The winning trainer, jockey
and owners will be orbited in to our proud
national history. I know this because it
has happened to us all just twelve months
ago. The journey since has been fantastic,
and with my trainer’s trophy never too far
from my watchful eye, I travelled around
the stud farms to give everyone a chance to
see and even hold the Cup. Every Randwick race day, the Cup sits on our table as
both a celebration and to show anyone and
everyone what we are striving for. The Cup
is a reminder of where we want to be come
I just love training
stayers, and yes, there
are five Golden Slippers
on the mantel piece at
Tulloch Lodge, however
the training of stayers is
just so remarkably
satisfying...
November each and every year.
Over the last week my racing manager
Adrian Bott and European Bloodstock
agent Johnny McKeever have acquired
another five staying prospects at the Tattersall’s sales that will soon make their way to
Australia. With my darling husband’s form
comments grasped tightly, Johnny and Adrian have found five new purchases that Rob
believes can improve significantly Down
Under. Rob certainly has a great record at
deciphering the European form. With every
wave of Europeans my team and I have
purchased over the last few years, we have
produced Stakes winners and indeed Group
1 winners. Greatwood (Manduro x Gaze),
The Offer (Montjeu x Valdara), Fiorente
(Monsun x Desert Bloom), Julienas (Cape
Cross x Dora Carrington) and Glencadam
Gold (Refuse to Bend x Sandrella) are all
Stakes winners and in some cases, multiple
Stakes winners. Rob studies the form long
and hard, and his eye for the improving
type is quite astute. With our team all working together, we manage to find the best
value for our guineas and these latest five
all fit into the formula that has worked for
us in the past. I just love training stayers,
and yes, there are five Golden Slippers on
the mantel piece at Tulloch Lodge, however
the training of stayers is just so remarkably
satisfying.
As I put the pen down, I am about to be
whisked off to the traditional Melbourne
Cup parade where I will be travelling down
Swanston Street in a horse-drawn carriage.
I will be joined in the parade by legendary
horses Might And Power, Doriemus, Rogan
Josh, Paris Lane and Efficient as well other
many other Melbourne Cup legends. It
promises to be a wonderful event and a
great few days ahead.
See you in the Winner’s Circle.
Gai
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
9
Colour Me Lucky...
This month’s article is inspired by Pierro and a two-year-old filly we have
just put on the market by the Group 1 Golden Slipper winner’s sire Lonhro,
writes Bruce Slade
Lohnro x Spectrolite filly
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A
nyone with an active twitter
account will have seen photo
after photo of Pierro’s first
crop foals over the past few
months, the young Coolmore stallion
dominant and stamping his stock with the
same dark features, athleticism and muscle
tone of his sire. Quite seriously, his foals are
outstanding, even in a market place where
all stallions leave ‘great foals’ in their first
crop, and on the back of the early signs
Australia’s leading breeders are returning
en masse.
Most attractive to breeders and future
buyers, rightly or wrongly, is the fact that
Pierro is colour dominant. By that I mean
he does not leave chestnuts, only different
shades of bay (black, brown, bay) or grey
(only if the mare is grey as you have to
have one grey parent). Lonhro too, was a
pure-breeding bay and so was his grandfather Zabeel. Many see this dominance as a
positive sign. Perhaps this sire is passing
on his athletic/cardio vascular capacity too?
Fastnet Rock, Redoute’s Choice, Danehill,
Sadler’s Wells, Dansili and Oasis Dream are
examples of world leading sires who did or
do only leave bay or grey foals (grey is not
a colour as these thoroughbreds are born
either chestnut or bay before grey overrides
these colours, becoming lighter with age).
However, Pierro’s own great-grandfather
Sir Tristram, and the stallions Galileo,
Exceed and Excel and Snitzel make it clear
that colour dominance is not essential to
success at stud. Thoroughbreds of course
each have two genes coding for colour,
and Pierro clearly has two bay genes as
each of his foals inherit at least one colour
dominant bay gene from him. A chestnut
therefore must have two chestnut genes for
that colour to be expressed in his/her coat,
this colour being recessive. Statistically,
colour makes no difference. Jane Henning
in an article for Logans Livestock Insurance
found for instance that leading sire Flying
Spur left 75% bay progeny, and the same
Colour Me Lucky cont...
percentage of his total stakes winners were
the same colour.
There is something comforting about a
top class racehorse and/or sire leaving ‘one’
in his mould. The ‘chip off the old block’,
‘daddy’s girl’, ‘his father’s son’ and the
like. In my time with Gai the likes of Pierro
(Lonhro), Fiorente (Monsun), Overreach
(Exceed and Excel), Driefontein (Fastnet
Rock), and The Offer (Montjeu) are all high
class Group 1 winners who you could definitely say ‘look just like dad’. At Round
Table Racing you could say the same about
all of our young guns - Excess Knowledge
(Monsun), Mr Boomsday (Domesday), and
Caped Crusader (O’Reilly).
You would not be surprised to find that
I am exceptionally excited about the first
crop of Pierro hitting the yearling sales. I
can still remember him walking out of his
barn ready for inspection at both Musk
Creek Farm and Magic Millions, the near
black son of Lonhro, grandson of Octagonal
– WOW!
I had the pleasure of seeing champion
sire Lonhro again this spring at Darley,
along with his son Denman, who could
also be described as a ‘pea in the pod’,
also being black, handsome and strong.
In fact Lonhro’s top three performers are
all ‘his colour’; Beaded, the tough Group
Lohnro x Spectrolite as a yearling
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1 winning mare making up the three. At
Magic Millions earlier this year, in a barn
close to where Pierro was stabled, a black
Lonhro filly took Gai’s eye in no uncertain
terms. James Harron was equally as ‘strong’
on her, and I was certainly in agreeance. Lot
99, the first foal of stakes-winning Stratum
mare Spectrolite, was always going to be
difficult for me to secure within our syndicator’s budget of approximately $170,000
(under ASIC regulations). Thankfully I got
on the right leg (something I learned from
my auctioneering days) and Round Table
Racing was able to sign the buyers docket
right at our tipping point.
Nothing felt better than securing that
Lonhro yearling filly I had fallen in love
with, dreamt about all sale, and thought
about constantly. I genuinely think she can
help put Round Table Racing on the map,
and I have left her until last to sell this year
as I think she is a no brainer.
I am not sure a risk averse thoroughbred
investor/enthusiast could ask for anything
more?
Did I mention she is going to be trained
by Gai Waterhouse?
This filly is now on the market and I
would like to give you the opportunity to be
involved. Is black your lucky colour? ▣
Bruce Slade 0400 505 238
Apart from being black
and beautiful, she is:
• By a champion sire
who I need not
discuss further
• Out of a young
two-year-old stakes
winning mare
• A first foal – TJ
Smith would
approve
• Bred on the Lonhro/
Danehill cross
responsible for
producing two
times the average
number of stakes
winners to runners
than the population
average
Seeking Stayers for the Holy Grail
in Racing
By Zeb Armstrong
G
ai took the Tulloch Lodge reins
in the early ‘1990s and not long
after being granted a training
licence, the future Hall of Fame
trainer had her first runner in the Melbourne
Cup. The horse was Te Akau Nick and he
was 160-1 in the 1993 Melbourne Cup (the
gelding had also run in the 1992 Cup). At
the furlong pole on the first Tuesday in
November 1993, had there been betting in
the run back then, the gelding would have
been even money. He looked the winner,
only to be mowed down late by Vintage
Crop, the Irish invader trained by the canny
Irishmen Dermot Weld. Te Akau Nick gave
the import weight in the 1993 Cup and was
only narrowly defeated. The Lady Trainer
was not bitter about the defeat, but thankful
for having a runner. However you can bet
your bottom dollar, that in her mind, Gai
was already planning her attack on the next
year’s Cup, while celebrating a runners up
finish.
It took until 1995 for Gai to have another
genuine chance in the big race. Well a
genuine chance in the stable’s eyes, but
a 20-1 outsider in the market. The horse
was the brilliant staying three-year-old
Nothin’ Leica Dane who three days earlier
had beaten Octagonal in the VRC Derby.
Nothin’ Leica Dane and the Caulfield Cup
winner Doriemus hit the lead together at
the 300m on the first Tuesday of November
1995, but the older, more seasoned stayer
Doriemus was simply too strong and raced
away in the closing stages thus relegating
Gai and Nothin’ Leica Dane to second…
again. Ironically, Vintage Crop ran third in
this race. Gai had beaten Vintage Crop, but
still had found one better.
The other notable runner Gai had in the
Melbourne Cup leading up to Fiorente was
a horse named Linesman. There were other
runners in the great race from time to time,
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but Linesman perhaps was the best Cup
run less the two aforementioned. Linesman
won the 1997 Sydney Cup by six lengths
in what was one of the best wins in the two
mile handicap in recent times. This win in
the autumn gave the stayer a free pass to
the Melbourne Cup, and he of course was
over from the Shaky Isles lately in regards
to success in the Cup.
The first decade of the 21st century
had come and gone and there was still no
Melbourne Cup sitting on the dining table
at the Waterhouse residence. There was a
Caulfield Cup thanks to the Kiwi purchased
We now arrive in the 21st century and Gai is
dominating Sydney racing...
aimed at the big race. At the 600m mark
of the 1997 Melbourne Cup, two horses
took off together and they were ridden by
the brothers Cassidy. Larry Cassidy was
aboard the Waterhouse trained Linesman
and Jimmy Cassidy had the privilege of
guiding champion Might And Power over
the famous two miles. Linesman and Might
And Power broke away from the field and
to most people at the track that day, they
had ‘gone too early.’ History shows that
Might And Power held on to win the race
by an inch, but Linesman’s run is rarely
discussed. Gai’s gelding held on for fifth,
beaten just a length. He took it right up
to Might And Power, and failed by just a
length. There is no disgrace being beaten by
one of only two horses to ever win the big
spring treble and one of the great stayers of
the late 20th century. One length over two
miles is not far, but again Gai had come so
close without taking home the Cup.
We now arrive to the 21st century and
Gai is in the Hall of Fame and is dominating Sydney racing. Without setting any
records Gai is also having plenty of Group
1 success in Melbourne, but the Lady
Trainer is lacking one thing… starters in the
Cups. To remedy this, Gai’s thoughts turned
to a worldwide search for Cup runners.
New Zealand and Europe were the places to
find stayers and the later certainly has taken
Descarado, but still no Melbourne Cup.
Then the European invasion started to take
place. Glencadam Gold, Julienas and in the
weeks leading up to the 2012 Melbourne
Cup, Fiorente arrived. In fact, most of the
stayers from the first ‘stayers package’ have
run and won in Australia, and the second
and third waves are doing well also. But
back to the 2012 Melbourne Cup, because
after all, that is the race for which all the
imports are purchased in the hope of winning. Runner-up again! Can you believe it?
Gai had a very limited time with Fiorente
before this race, but the Lady Trainer with
all her wisdom and encouraging words
changed the stallion’s work at Werribee in
the hope of getting him right for the big
day. Gai had him walking in circles, running past the grandstand and doing things
he was not used to in order to try and get
him ready for Cup day 2012 and 100,000
sets of eyes. Alas, Gai’s great mate Lloyd
Williams was to deny the Lady Trainer with
his own imported stallion Green Moon.
Back to the drawing board, but you can
only imagine Gai shaking her head and
exclaiming ‘we will win it next year’. And
win it the following year Gai did. Fiorente
had a perfect preparation and won the 2013
Melbourne and in doing so joined the likes
of Phar Lap and Carbine as horses to place
in the Cup then win it the following year.
By the time you are
reading this the 2014
Melbourne Cup would
have been run and
won and the Aussie
bred Fawkner is
certainly a big chance
to have taken out the
race that stops a
nation. The Japanese
horse Admire Rakti is
the logical favourite,
but he won’t have it
his own way despite
seemingly having
a very acceptable
weight...
© Bradley Photography
RTR’s Excess Knowledge
By the time you are reading this the 2014 Melbourne Cup would have been run
and won and the Aussie bred Fawkner is certainly a big chance to have taken out
the race that stops a nation. The Japanese horse Admire Rakti is the logical favourite, but he won’t have it his own way despite seemingly having a very acceptable
weight. Protectionist from Germany has had a start in Australia and is looking quite
nice as we speak. As well as Fawkner, Lloyd Williams will also have Green Moon
who is looking to become the first horse since Peter Pan in the age of the Depression to win two Melbourne Cups over three years. The old marvel Red Cadeaux
is back for a fourth Melbourne Cup. We all thought him incapable of a repeat
performance last year, until he hit the front and it took every pound of Fiorente’s
grit, tenacity and determination to get past the Ed Dunlop trained gelding. Saeed
bin Suroor has two runners, Cavalryman and Willing Foe. Both have settled in
well and the former is well and truly proven at 3200m. The former champion hoop
Johnny Murtagh has two runners in Royal Diamond and Mutual Regard. Johnny
was recently asked on Australian television about the differences between being
a champion jockey and a trainer. The canny Irishmen replied that he had never
worked so hard for so little money since starting his training career! However he
certainly has two live chances this year, and by the time you have read this, he may
be a Cup winning trainer.
Before we know it, it will be Cup time 2015 and we will be talking about
Greatwood and numerous other imports that will be ready to step up for the 2015
Melbourne Cup. Maybe it will be Round Table Racing’s Excess Knowledge or
Café Society, or even the quality French galloper, Pornichet. As we go to print Gai
has purchased three new staying prospects from Europe. They are Queensberry
Rules, Zee Zeely and Knife Point. All three tick all the boxes that Gai and her team
require before a purchase is made, and all three should be hitting our shores in the
not too distant future.
Rest assured dear owners, that no matter how many times Gai is to win the
Melbourne Cup, and hopefully it is multiple times, the Lady Trainer will want to
win the next one just as much if not more. It took TJ 50 years to get two. Gai is half
way there after twenty and from the stride in her step of late, she does not appear to
have any plans of slowing down. Europe, and indeed our neighbour New Zealand,
are full of horses that seem to improve not only under the Aussie sun, but under
Gai’s tutelage. So, join us for the ride, you will have the time of your life!▣
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
15
Of Pinfiring, Blistering, Bleeding,
Lead and Mud
In excess of thirty years ago, when I first walked through the gates of
Tulloch Lodge in Bowral Street, Kensington, I discovered a new world of
terminology pertaining to common practice as regards the race horse and
its care. Nowadays, much of this terminology and the thought processes
surrounding it has become uncommon, and a thing of yesteryear in most
cases. Words like “old fashioned, wives’ tales and barbaric” have been
applied to these practices over time. Curiosity, interest and a thirst for
knowledge sparked the idea for this article and may answer a few
questions in the minds of you, our readers. Respected veterinarian, John
Peatfield was kind enough to give his thoughts on the following and his
comments follow the explanations, writes Lea Stracey
Lea Stracey: Pinfiring or line firing
(thermocautery) was a practice outlawed
by Parliament in the early to mid 90s. It
was used on horses with leg issues. The
inflammation or soreness could occur in
the cannon bone, fetlock, knee, tendon or
ligament. Today other treatment methods
are used. In former times, pinfiring was a
method used as an adjunct to sending the
horse to the paddock. This involved a local
anaesthetic, then the area was clipped and
sterilised and an electrocautery instrument
was used to apply a pattern of dots or
lines on the inflamed area. This was then
dressed daily for around seven days. The
idea of using heat as a medicine was first
recorded around 500AD. It is based on the
concept of a “counter irritant”, that is, you
apply acute inflammation over a chronic
inflammation in order to lessen or remove
that chronic inflammation. In my research,
in spite of welfare implications, there has
been no long term damage as a result of this
procedure, but rather long term help for the
performing horse.
John Peatfield: Veterinary treatments
have definitely changed over the years.
Pinfiring was certainly widely used and
was very effective in certain discreet forms
of utilization. It’s a pity that the “baby
was thrown out with the bath water” as far
as banning all forms of pinfiring because
whilst firing was widely overused, it had
its place in the treatment of certain specific
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issues in horses.
LS: Blistering is based on the same principle of “counter irritation” to create acute
inflammation over chronic inflammation.
It depends on the application of a blistering
agent to the skin wherever necessary. It is
most commonly used on shins and tendons
and sprains. Maintenance differs from
pinfiring. The area is not bandaged. It is
Veterinary treatments
have definitely changed
over the years.
Pinfiring was certainly
widely used and was
very effective in certain
discreet forms of
utilization...
allowed to swell during which time the
horse is monitored for infection and then
put out for a spell. To my knowledge this
practice is still performed.
JP: Personally, I could never see any benefit in blistering.
LS: Bleeding humans goes back to Ancient
Egyptian times and whilst we don’t know
when horses were first bled, it has remained
a method of standard practice to this day.
So why bleed a horse? By removing a large
quantity of blood (6-8 litres) this gives
them a lift or “freshens them up” if they
have had a hard racing campaign. A horse
that has been bled seems to achieve a new
lease of life – his coat shines and he thrives.
Whilst it is not accepted by academics,
it does work practically and seems to be
explainable in terms of natural hormone release. The process is relatively commonly
done. Blood is taken from the jugular vein
painlessly with a cannula (hollow needle)
under a local anaesthetic. After bleeding,
the horse has an easy week, being walked
for two days then slowly building up from
a trot to a canter and thereafter back to
normal work.
JP: Bleeding was and still can be a very
effective means of refreshing a horse. One
can argue how and why it works but there is
no argument that it doesn’t work from those
who witness the effects.
LS: Lead flashing is used as a treatment on
splints to reduce them. Splints are usually
found on the inside of the canon bone
around three inches below the knee but they
can be found on the outside of the cannon
bone as well though this is less common.
On either side of the cannon bone, a horse
has a bone that takes pressure from the
knee. These splint bones start at the bottom
of the knee and follow the line of the
cannon bone. They get smaller until they
disappear above the fetlock joint.
Lead flashing applied to
splint prior to bandaging
They are attached to the cannon bone by fibrous tissue. If a horse has off set knees or
is slightly toed out, the pressure on exercise
can cause the splint bones to shear or move
independently of the cannon bone, tearing
from it and the fibrous tissue calcifies and
becomes the lump that we see and know as
a splint.
Lead is soft and malleable, yet firm,
is able to mold to the skin and is kept in
place over the splint with a bandage, thus
applying pressure to the splint. If nothing
else, it was a form of applying firm pressure
whereas just a bandage was less effective.
It helped reduce the size of the splint.
JP: Yes, putting lead on splints has an
apparent benefit. I am not certain, but I
think Percy Sykes was the first to use this
treatment. It was probably just the pressure
rather than any mystical power of the lead
that sped up the resolution of the splint.
LS: Mud or types of clay preparations
were used daily as a way of reducing
inflammation in the legs. It was applied/
painted on the legs. It seems to me that
whilst it might act as a cooling agent initially, the application of mud was of dubious
efficacy!
JP: I would certainly say that the mud is
better left in the paddock. There is no logic
that a film of mud painted on the leg would
have any benefit whatsoever. ▣
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
© Need for Steed Aus
17
My Date with Kate
Overlooking the serene bay of Balmoral Beach, Kate Waterhouse, journalist,
media personality and first-time mother, found time between filming on
the set of her new show Fashion Bloggers and preparing for her Spring
Carnival commitments to sit down and tell me all about juggling a
successful career with a newborn baby, writes Madison Whant
20
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
© Tamika Keioskie
Q. Where did fashion start for
you?
All the women in my family have always had
a great appreciation for fashion and to grow up
around that had a huge influence on me.
Q. What was your first real
fashion ‘gig’?
I became the David Jones Racewear ambassador when I was younger, but in terms of my
journalism career, my first fashion gig was as
the style writer for the Sunday Telegraph. Later
I went on to become the Fashion Editor at the
Sun Herald, before starting my fashion and
lifestyle blog katewaterhouse.com.
Q. Growing up, what were your
aspirations? Did you think
fashion would be one of them or
did you want to follow in your
mother’s footsteps on the track?
I knew I wanted to get into journalism so I
studied a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications after school. I never really wanted
to train horses but mum was in media as a TV
presenter and actor before she was a trainer, so
I feel like I have still followed her footsteps in
a way.
“I knew I wanted to get into
journalism so I studied a
Bachelor of Arts in Media
and Communications after
school. I never really
wanted to train horses but
mum was in media as a TV
presenter and actor before
she was a trainer, so I feel
like I have still followed her
footsteps in a way....”
Q. Do you ride horses too?
Yes, I love riding. When I was younger I was
a really keen rider. I spent my weekends at
Eastern Suburbs Riding Club and my holidays
at horse riding camps, but these days I am time
poor and I don’t get to ride as much as I would
like to.
Q. Do you currently have shares
in any of Gai’s horses?
Yes, I’m very lucky to have shares in a couple
of horses.
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
21
© Need for Steed Aus
Kate and Madison discussing spring fashion trends
“I feel so lucky to have this opportunity...”
Q. Your official roles include: journalist, media personality
and columnist for The Sun Herald. How do you find the
workload, namely, juggling three different roles?
It’s definitely a juggle! I have my five-month-old daughter, Sophia, who is my number one
priority, plus my website which is a full-time role, my Sun Herald column and my Spring
Carnival commitments. I have also spent the last three months filming for my new TV
show, Fashion Bloggers, which is currently airing on the Style Network. It has definitely
been busy but I love what I do and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Q. What are your fashion essentials?
For me it would be a black tailored blazer, a leather jacket, white t-shirts, an LBD (little
black dress), black pump heels, leather pants and skinny leg jeans.
Q. When and why did you start a fashion and lifestyle blog?
I started it in March of 2013. Working as the Fashion Editor at the Sun Herald gave me the
opportunity to interview really interesting people, go to some amazing events and write
about beautiful fashion, so I started my blog to document my experiences. I never expected
it to take off the way that it did.
Q. As a fashion blogger you obviously value the exposure the
internet provides us. What is your take on social media?
I love social media, it is a great tool to communicate directly to your readers. In print
media you don’t get that immediate interaction.
Q. Do you have a limit to social media?
Yes, I think you have to. It’s important to keep some things private.
22
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Q. Has running a professional
blog opened up any other
avenues you want to pursue?
For example your new show,
Fashion Bloggers?
Yes, definitely. I never expected to be
filming a TV show about my blog. I feel so
lucky to have this opportunity.
Q. You recently blogged
about your time at the official
launch of the 2014 Sydney
Spring Carnival and said it
was your favourite time of the
year. Is this because of your
connection with Gai and the
prominent role it plays in her
life too?
Yes, for sure. Spring time in general is a
great time of year but I also love the Spring
Racing Carnival because of the top class
racing and sensational fashion on display.
Q. What can we expect in
terms of fashion in racing this
spring?
Derby day is traditionally black and white
attire but I’m predicting that we will see a
lot of the white-on-white trends this season!
When it comes to Melbourne Cup day it is
© Tamika Keioskie
Downtime with Sophia
“Having my own
business and blog
means that work
never really stops but
I did do about twelve
weeks worth of work
for my website and the
Sun-Herald in the lead
up to the birth of Sophia
so I could enjoy those
first three months off
with her...”
all about colour and Oaks day is ‘Ladies
Day’, so think pretty lace, beautiful floral
prints and soft pastels.
first three months off with her. I then had to get back into it quite quickly. I’m lucky that I don’t
have a 9-5 gig which means I can work a lot from home and work around Sophia’s sleep times.
So I feel very fortunate in that way.
Q. How did you come to be a
David Jones Racewear
ambassador and when?
Q. How about first-time motherhood. How are you finding it?
I was a David Jones Racewear ambassador
from 2004 -2009. I shared the role with
mum, which was very special as we had
been shopping at DJs since I was little, so it
was so nice to be able to work together with
such a great brand.
Q. Have you ever been on the
judging panel for Fashions on
the Field?
Yes, I’ve been lucky enough to be on the
panel many times. I love seeing how the
entrants interpret various runway trends and
apply them to racewear.
Q. What role did Gai play in
shaping your pursuit of
fashion as a career?
I’m absolutely loving it. It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever done.
Q. Any tips for juggling a new born and maintaining your career?
It is definitely a challenge to juggle motherhood and a career, but being a mum is the most
rewarding thing in the world. For me, I feel very blessed that my family is so supportive and my
husband Luke is so hands-on.
Q. How about Gai and her grandchildren, what does her quality
time with the little ones usually involve?
Mum is an amazing grandmother. She is always trying to make them smile and laugh. I can’t
wait for her to teach Sophia to ride horses.
Q. What is your biggest achievement to date?
Definitely being a mum to Sophia.
Kate and baby Sophia
As I mentioned before she has always had
a great appreciation for fashion and to grow
up around that had a huge influence on me.
She is definitely my fashion icon!
Q. Have you taken much time
off work with the birth of
your first child?
© Tamika Keioskie
Having my own business and blog means
that work never really stops but I did do
about twelve weeks worth of work for my
website and the Sun-Herald in the lead up to
the birth of Sophia so I could enjoy those
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
23
A Red-letter Day for the Kiwis
W
hat a whirlwind month
it has been! October
notoriously seems to be the
month that everything happens at once: there are still foals arriving,
breeze ups to complete, yearling catalogues
to produce, and lots of great spring racing
stories emerging day after day.
We loved seeing the win by Gai’s Kiwi
filly Forever Loved in the Group 2 VRC
Blazer Stakes at Flemington earlier in October. The daughter of High Chaparral was
bought by Gai and James Harron from Sir
Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud in 2012
for NZ$650,000, and she is raced by Greg
and Donna Kolivos of Pierro fame. The
four-year-old has set her sights on Group
24
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of those coveted contests that the New
Zealand horses have to go toe to toe with
the best of the imports, and this year it was
only the Japanese horse Admire Rakti that
denied them a kiwi trifecta, putting in a
hugely competitive staying performance
to finish second, third and fourth (Rising
Romance (NZ), Lucia Valentina (NZ) and
Brambles (NZ)).
One of the other promising signs from
some of those recent results, is the emergence of an exciting young sire looking
to take over his champion father’s mantle.
Waikato Stud sire Savabeel is stepping
boldly into the great Zabeel’s shoes with the
likes of top liners Lucia Valentina, Brambles, Costume, Atmosphere and a host
© Mark Gatt
New Zealand import Forever Loved winning the Group
2 VRC Blazer Stakes at Flemington
1 glory on VRC Derby Day, and we wish
them all the very best of luck.
That Saturday in October was a red-letter
day for New Zealand Bloodstock with four
Group 1 and three Group 2 winning graduates across Australia, Singapore and NZ
on the day. Amongst them were Group 1s
from Lucia Valentina (Savabeel), First Seal
(Fastnet Rock), Costume (Savabeel) and
War Affair (O’Reilly), and Group 2 wins by
Famous Seamus (Elusive City), Turn Me
Loose (Iffraaj) and Forever Loved (High
Chaparral).
The growing presence of the international competitors in the big spring events in
recent years has really forced the Kiwis to
up their game. The Caulfield Cup is one
of other talented performers in the wings.
With his champion stablemate O’Reilly
represented by the likes of Sacred Falls and
Singapore star War Affair, the powerhouse
pair are strongly underpinning our local sire
ranks.
Speaking of sires, as we work into the
spring there are a few starting to move into
the spotlight in NZ. The Cambridge Stud
sire Tavistock, whose oldest crop are now
three, has been enjoying a dream run. Himself a Group 1 sprinting son of Montjeu,
he’s collected two stakes winners and three
stakes placegetters in a matter of the last
few weeks, including the runner up in the
Group 2 ATC Gloaming Stakes in Diamond
Valores and Group 3 ARC Bonecrusher
winner here Volkstok’n’barrell. Finishing
right behind him was another son of a
of two-year-olds. The European Champion Miler and Windsor Park Stud resident
Rip Van Winkle is showing huge promise
having already sired Group 1 winner Dick
Whittington and Group 3 winner I Am
Beautiful from his first crop. The son of
Galileo has already collected his first Australasian winner with Magic Dancer one of
just two runners to date.
In Karaka news, Breeze Ups for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale were completed
on 20 and 21 October with nearly 400 twoyear-olds successfully timed and filmed
galloping down the final 200m of the home
straight of the Te Rapa racecourse.
For the Breeze Ups to all go off perfectly
the stars really need to align, with horses,
jockeys, crew and weather gods, all playing
their part. It’s quite the logistical exercise
to capture nearly 400 horses over two days,
then to edit, compress, copy and distribute
the video files as quickly as possible for
prospective buyers. And with each horse
only getting one chance to shine, there’s a
lot of pressure on all parties to get it right.
So it’s a huge relief to have it all done and
dusted without a hitch, and those videos
are now live online and available on DVD
as we count down to sale day on 19 and 20
November. ▣
young sire in Passing Shot, from the eldest
crop of Westbury Stud sire Swiss Ace.
Of those sires that spend their Southern
Hemisphere seasons in New Zealand from
Europe, the likes of Makfi, Rip Van Winkle
and Showcasing are all making a great start
to their careers with their northern crops
© Mark Gatt
This year it was only the
Japanese horse Admire
Rakti that denied them a
kiwi trifecta...
The happy owners of Forever Loved
Bra dl ey P h o t og r a p h e r s
The best way to commemorate your win
BP
Simply register your details
and start purchasing
online at:
www.bradleyphotos.com.au
Contact: Mark Bradley
02 4868 1433 • 02 4868 3794
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
25
Sydney Cup winner The Offer
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
© Bradley Photographers
26
An Interview with Horse
Owner Rob McClure
Rob McClure became an owner with the first UK Syndication which was a
very successful one. So successful that he has continued with this winning
formula, as Zeb Armstrong found out
How did you first get involved
in the racing industry?
I suppose I should go back to a time around
1948 when Sunday mornings involved
mass, breakfast and then a family trip to
Stan Smithers’ Stables in Mentone. Here we
would view my father’s potential champions such as Blue (Bugger), sorry I mean
Blue Begger, who had an annoying habit of
opening up a ten length lead and then stopping to wait for the other horses to catch up
and subsequently run second or third. I do
remember a horse named Jobe’s Gully who
won the Wooden Cup in the same colours
that Yosei raced in her three Group 1 wins.
It has been quite a thrill to be able to still
use our family silks after 66 years.
How did a love of racing turn
into a career that has resulted
(at this stage) in being a
Melbourne Cup winning
owner and stud farm owner?
My memories include working at Flemington as a young lad selling pies and lollies
watching champions such as Wodalla, Rising Fast and Toparoa win their Cups in the
mid-fifties. Never in a month of Sundays
would I have dreamt that one day I would
be an owner, together with my son Paul, of
our own Melbourne Cup winner.
How did you feel when
Fiorente hit the lead in the
Cup in 2013?
The performance of the original parachute
horse was extraordinary. As Gai and Barbara descended the stairs from the grandstand
after the 2012 Melbourne Cup both almost
in shock, Gai just shook her head and said
“We will win next year”.
From that day on, I think all the owners
just had that expectation that he would win
and when he hit the front at the 300m mark
we knew nothing was going to pass him.
He is such a magnificent animal and it was
an honour to be part of his success. It is
amazing the feeling, despite the fact that
we didn’t breed him, ride him, train him or
even perhaps choose him. It does not matter
even how large or small your share is, that
surge of emotion when you know he is
going to win just blows you away.
Now that you have won a Cup,
what other races are at the
top of your bucket list?
The Cup again! Who knows what the future
will hold, at the time of writing, The Offer
is preparing for this year’s Cup. Can he do
it? Well, we have everything crossed but if
he doesn’t, the past four years have been
very exciting and we do appreciate how
lucky we have been. With horses such as
Excess Knowledge, Café Society, Bonfire
and Greatwood to represent the Syndicates
for the next few years, we seem destined for
a lot more fun.
Tell us a bit about Morning
Rise Stud. How did this
venture come about?
Morning Rise started life with Barbara and
I on a small boutique farm, running a small
herd of cattle and a few chooks. I must
admit that after a very intense business life,
thoughts of retirement were a bit scary. One
day whilst enjoying a day at the races, I
think it was Derby Day 2007, we decided
it might be fun to buy a couple of mares
for breeding purposes. We contacted James
Bester, who was a great help to us and
continues this day to be a valued consultant
to our operations. We originally purchased
a brood of four mares of medium value
which has now expanded with James’ help
to fifteen, and includes such Stakes winners
as Anabandana, Bliss Street, Sister Havana,
Za Moulin Rouge, Yosei, True Doubt,
Danevade, Catreign and Bankers Choice.
We also have a number of Fastnet Rock
sired fillies in the early stages of pre-race
preparations who will be the future of our
broodmare band.
So how does it work? Do you
purchase fillies and mares,
take them to the stallions,
bring them home, then raise
the foals for sale?
Basically we breed to sell. We, with James’
help select appropriate leading stallions to
cover our mares. As most of these guys are
in the Hunter Valley, we send our mares to
Henry Field at Newgate Farm with whom
we enjoy a great relationship and he enjoys
our trust in preparing our yearlings for
sale. In the last three years he has prepared
yearlings for us that have achieved prices
of $1M, $420K, $390K and $330K. At the
upcoming sales we have yearlings by Fastnet Rock, So You Think, Snitzel, Foxwedge
and a Master of Design colt who will attract
a lot of attention.
What is the best horse so far
to be born at Morning Rise
Stud?
We have enjoyed some success with our
homebreds, including “Break a Theory” a
dual stakes winner in Japan purchased by
Big Red Farm, Diva Dee who is Stakes
placed at Flemington trained by Anthony
Cummings and Monkstone a dual
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
27
An Interview with horse owner Rob McClure cont...
She may not be the biggest mare around but
as James says “She had all the right assets
to be a great racehorse”. Currently we are
waiting for her to produce a Fastnet Rock
foal.
Rob and wife Barbara celebrating
Fiorente’s 2013 Melbourne Cup win
How did you get involved
with Gai and the
importation of international
staying horses?
Our relationship with Gai commenced when
she purchased one of our yearlings at the
MM Sales and we purchased a share in the
first of her UK Stayers Syndicate. This first
syndicate was a great success and included
Glencadam Gold who went on to win the
Group 1 Metropolitan and Julienas who
won multiple stakes races plus ran second
“It is interesting to note
that in the Sires Produce, Yosei beat Skilled,
Hinchinbrook and Toorak Toff all of whom became Stallions She may
not be the biggest mare
around but as James
says ‘she had all the right
assets to be a great racehorse...”
Metropolitan Winner purchased by
Coolmore and others for $1 million. I suppose for a breeder the ultimate aim must be
to breed and retain a Group 1 winner, so we
will keep trying.
You acquired a share in the
gun filly Yosei early in her
career. How did you know she
was going to be a star?
Our purchase of Yosei almost didn’t happen.
She was bred by John Pittard, our farrier,
who took her to the Inglis Weanling sales
with a reserve of $15K, fortunately for us
she didn’t reach that figure and John took
her home. Twelve months later our Stud
Manager, Darren Godfrey in conversation
28
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with John suggested we may be interested
in purchasing her as she had won her first
start at Benalla and had run a close second
to Schrapnel in Adelaide. John wouldn’t
sell her but agreed to accept our offer for
50%. Within six months she had won the
Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick
together with the Group 1 One Thousand
Guineas at Caulfield. The following year
she won the Group 1 Tatts Tiara at Eagle
Farm and then in one of her best runs she
almost stole The Doncaster Handicap from
More Joyous trained by Gai. Michelle
Payne rode her in all her major victories and
she has a special place in our hearts. It is
interesting to note that in the Sires Produce,
Yosei beat Skilled, Hinchinbrook and Toorak Toff all of whom became Stallions.
in The Metropolitan. Since then we have
participated in another four syndicates
which included horses such as Sesentum
and The Baronet, however without doubt
the stand outs are Fiorente and The Offer,
who have won 3 Group 1’s between them
(at this stage). The success of the syndicates
has been unbelievable.
Living on the Mornington
Peninsula, you surely must be
a mad golfer? Do you have a
whack and are you any good?
In our spare time between racing, gardening
and grandkids we both enjoy a game of
golf. We are members of Kingston Heath
and Sorrento. Barb’s handicap is sixteen
and mine is eleven so we like to be competitive and what better place to play than on
the Mornington Peninsula?
Get the Facts Straight
Claims Rob Waterhouse as he explains the realities of racing
thoroughbreds
This piece is allowed
no photographs!
Stories normally need photos, but this
article is about the odd people who are
attacking horse racing. Photos are like
oxygen. The protestors can’t be allowed any
exposure, so no images are in this piece.
Well, perhaps a cartoon.
Annoyingly, these protestors concentrate
their attacks on Gai with billboards, placards and advertisements, often showing Gai
‘photo-shopped’ beside a poor dead equine.
We won’t show Gai, she’d be devastated.
They choose Gai only because her face is
so well known.
There was a large billboard last week
on an important Melbourne road, showing
a pitiful dead horse, with the caption: “Is
the party really worth it? Horseracingkills.
com”.
Racing was aghast.
Pressure was brought to bear on the media company who lease out the sign and it
was taken down. The ad was placed by the
Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses
(CPR), no doubt pronounced ‘creep”, a
private (i.e. you can’t join) organisation
using a grant from Voiceless, which is
opposed to factory farming. Sadly, two men
I admire, Bob Carr and Michael Kirby are
patrons or council members of Voiceless.
Voiceless makes quite a few grants, but
never to animal welfare itself. Nothing for
real animals. Ever. The grants are often
to journalists, the journo code of conduct
notwithstanding. CPR are quite dishonest
in the photos they create – for instance, Gai
being photo-shopped into a photograph
with a horse she has never had anything to
do with, that died five years ago.
CPR’s public claims are always rubbish.
Some non-facts they assert are:
• 15,000 thoroughbreds are sent to
slaughter by the industry, which is nonsense. A recent study, commissioned by
the Australian Racing Board, ‘followed’ 3,224 retiring horses. It found
only six were sent to the knackery
• Slow horses are purposefully broken
down by their trainers for the insurance
money. Of course, you can’t insure
against “breaking down” and it would
be a criminal act by a trainer against
the insurance company.
• Two-year-old racing is bad for horses,
which flies in the face of every study.
Two-year-olds have much longer racing expectancies.
• Only 30% of racehorses ever race.
Again, totally wrong.
Voiceless are “anti-speciesismists” (my
made-up word, I don’t believe there is a
word for describing their view), declaring that being all species are equal. They
advocate that a person humanly destroying
a horse be prosecuted for murder. They further say a lion, who eats an antelope should
be prosecuted. Their ‘all species are equal’
argument seems ‘nice’, but is totally absurd.
Anything to do with eating or exploiting
animals (or even their eggs or milk) is totally wrong for these anti-speciesismists. But,
more critters lose their lives at the hands
of vegans than with meat eaters. A fattened
steer can produce 400 kilograms of meat,
would that be 2,000,200gram portions or
three years of meat for one person every
day. By contrast, the corn field (or any
Voiceless are
“anti-speciesismists”
(my made-up word, I
don’t believe there is
a word for describing
their view), declaring
that being all species are
equal...
crop) is regularly sprayed, killing countless
of God’s creatures (insects). Then the harvesting machine kills the rodents. Lots die.
Vegans’ hands are not clean!
Two things are
important to be said:
• Firstly, thoroughbreds are brought into
existence for racing. They would not
have been created without racing, and
they lead happy, worthwhile lives and
must be grateful they are cared for.
• Secondly, 70,000 good Australian
citizens earn their livings from racing.
They love horses and are good people.
Good on them.
A curse on these fools. May they become
voiceless. ▣
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
29
Wayne Harrison, a man
Able to airbrush anything...
Before you read this article, have another careful look above at Gai’s newly
painted horse float. Watch out for it as it graces our roads and highways
coming to a racetrack near you, writes Lea Stracey
N
ot one to be a shrinking violet,
Gai decided on some images
for her horse float that would
make the observer take notice
and look again. Enter Wayne Harrison
from Advanced Airbrush. He has skillfully
made Gai’s vision a reality. “Painting images on a horse float for the first time,” he
reports, “was a really fun thing to do.”
Wayne Harrison is a softly spoken,
unassuming self-made man. There is much
to admire and impress in hearing his story.
While at school, Wayne discovered he had
a talent and love for drawing and art. At a
very tender age, he ran away from a difficult home life and found himself working
30
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amongst show people, specifically as an assistant to an old man who fostered his love
of painting by showing him how to use the
airbrush, and how to execute larger images
for the signage at the showgrounds. “This
man got me started,” recounted Wayne. “I
loved painting the bright and vibrant pictures. They were fun to do.” Wayne learnt
his trade as an apprentice, and after honing
his skills on billboards and signage at the
showgrounds around Australia settled down
to his own business at Mt Druitt thirty five
years ago.
His work at the beginning was creating
signage and making billboards for outdoor
advertising. John Singleton for example
was a client at that time. Remember the
large billboards of newsreader Roger
Climpson? That was Wayne. When I asked
him the size of the billboards, the largest he
worked on measured 60mx20m. Incredible! Wayne also used to do all the signage
on the Sydney buses, but now the images
are digital and stuck on. He explained that
when digital technology arrived he needed
to expand his business to compensate for
the drop in work. Ever the creative, he
began painting cars, hot rods, trucks, boats,
even extending to portraiture, trompe l’oeils
on the walls of peoples’ homes (love these)
and even body art. As his business grew, he
needed new premises and moved to Minchi-
nbury and on to Penrith where his workshop remains today.
I asked Wayne about his most challenging request. Asian Air wanted life like
portraits of three hostesses on either side of
the tail of a 737. These had to be matching
in position on either side too. It was a difficult job as the hanger that housed the plane
was very small and tight and this meant that
Wayne had to rely on methods he had learnt
and used in the early days. He had a mere
seven days for this job in Singapore and
had to teach local staff his methods to help
him as the job was so big. Though very satisfied with his completed work, this job was
one of his most challenging. He thrives on
challenge he told me. Another aeroplane
job he enjoyed was being flown to Brisbane
to paint the maidens on the Virgin Blue
aeroplanes. Each maiden took four hours. I
remember being very impressed when I saw
them for the first time and I’m delighted
to have met and spoken with the man who
painted them.
Wayne especially enjoys painting
portraits of famous people. He feels if the
portrait is immediately recognizable and
people comment, then he has done a good
job. He also enjoys the challenge of
These days, Wayne’s
team consists of himself
and one other painter,
but he insists that his
wife Joanne is the backbone of the business
and his greatest
support. “I couldn’t
have done it without
her,” he claims....
the trompe l’oeil (translated literally as
“trick of the eye”) and has some lovely
examples on his website.
Whilst many of the images Wayne paints
are really quite modern or futuristic, the
method of passing on this trade harks back
to the old days of master and apprentice.
As Wayne was taught his profession, so
he wants to ensure the continuance of the
trade. To this purpose, he regularly teaches
airbrushing techniques to interested people
and sometimes, a good student will stay on
as an employee. These days, Wayne’s team
consists of himself and one other painter,
but he insists that his wife Joanne is the
backbone of the business and his greatest
support. “I couldn’t have done it without
her,” he claims. “She is always looking for
ways to promote our business. It is Joanne
who has built the business profile and she
has been with me since the beginning, every
day of this painting journey.” ▣
If you want help to promote your business
24 hours a day or simply want to decorate
a wall you can contact Wayne or Joanne
at Advanced Airbrush Australia on
+61247222332, www.airbrush.com.au
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
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Mark Newnham, Tommy Berry, Gai and Joe with some young admirers
© Bradley Photographers
Winners Are Grinners
By Joe Callan
A
couple of weeks ago on a
Wednesday afternoon I had a
change of scenery as I went to
Canterbury Races to saddle up
Gai’s four runners on the day with Assistant
trainer Mark Newnham. Gai of course was
in attendance and luckily for me she was
kind enough to fix my twisted tie when we
first bumped into one another at the start
of the day, the lady trainer’s eye for detail
came to my rescue, and probably not for the
first or last time during my stay.
When in Gai’s company, one thing you
constantly will learn about is communication. Gai is a people’s person and to sit back
and observe how she conducts herself in the
presence of her owners and in front of the
cameras is quite amazing and much is to be
learned from her. It is no wonder why she
is such a popular figure worldwide. With all
the owners in the yard, Gai makes an amazing effort to know each owner on a personal
basis and makes their day as enjoyable as
possible.
A memory of the day that will stick with
me for many years to come occurred on
Wednesday. A horse of Gai’s, Duccio (More
Than Ready x Elle Duccio), won a strongly
contested race on the day but unfortunately
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www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
his owner was not in attendance. A group
of three young girls, no more than twelve
years old rushed over to the parade ring to
cheer in the horse and of course to see Gai,
an icon in Australian racing. The three girls
caught Gai’s attention and she immediately
brought them in to pose for the winning
picture with her, Tommy Berry, one of Australia’s leading jockeys, Mark Newnham
and myself. That is a memory that will stick
in those children’s minds for many years
to come and I have no doubt three strong
supporters of Gai and Australian Racing
were made that day.
Gai, for each race, has a detailed speed
map and it was incredible to see how this
was used at the races. Much work must
go in to these speed maps as they seem
very accurate. Gai discusses them with the
owners and jockey pre-race. They are used
to compose tactics, along with the track
reading which is taken on the morning of
the race by a member of the Waterhouse
team. Nothing is left to chance and it is this
meticulous attention to detail that contributes to the winning formula of the Waterhouse stable.
Duccio was not the only winner on the
day as White Dove (High Chaparral x An-
gel Dreamer) also won impressively, while
another runner Golden Aro (More Than
Ready x Danni Martine), was just denied in
a photo finish, but recently gained compensation at the same venue the following
week.
It is great to see the horses winning again
after a bit of a quiet spell. The highlight
win so far has to be Hampton Court’s
(Redoute’s Choice x Roses and Wine) win
in the Spring Champion Stakes. The day
was amazing for all involved and it was
brilliant to see Gai win her first Group 1 of
the Carnival.
Another highlight was Vancouver
(Medaglia D’oro x Skates) winning the
Breeders’ Plate. After seeing so much work
going into the young horses and working
with them myself, since I arrived, it was
amazing to see him perform on the big
stage and win the prestigious two-year-old
race.
The anticipation has really begun to build
for the Melbourne Cup and the rest of the
Melbourne Carnival now. Being able to experience the whole atmosphere in Australia
on the big day is something I have been
looking forward to since I arrived, and I am
sure it will live up to expectations. ▣
Caped Crusader with the Lowry and McIntosh families
And from you...
Caped Crusader celebrated
his third birthday at a recent
Sunday at the Stables with the
Lowry and McIntosh families
who made sure he celebrated
in style....
Please drop Gai a line
@GaiWaterhouse1
gai@waterhouse.com.au
34
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
© Need for Steed Aus
Or, send us an email:
MUSCOVADO
Jockey: Winona Costin
Inglis Bonus Handicap, 1600m
© Bradley Photographers
© Need for Steed Aus
ORDER OF THE SUN
Jockey: Thomas Huet
#Moetmoment Handicap, 2000m
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www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
© Mark Gatt
SWEET IDEA
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Tristarc Stakes, 1400m
PIERRETTE
Jockey: Winona Costin
SEASON PLATE, 1000m
© Bradley Photographers
Recent
Winners
Gai,
I just want to say thank you to you and the team
at Gai Waterhouse Racing for the win. Pierrette
looked great in the mounting yard and raced like a
professional. Putting Winona on her with the 2kg
claim was the difference.
Again, thanks for the win.
Anthony Tannous
© Bradley Photographers
VANILLA PRINCESS
Jockey: Winona Costin
Maiden Plate, 1200m
www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au
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