racing

How did you become so involved with horse racing?

There’s a funny quirk of fate in racing that lures new participants in by early successes. So many people who have invested passion and capital into the industry have the same story – my first horse won a Group race, or my first horse won its first start in the city.

My story is similar. After purchasing a half share in the big chestnut mare Magical Storm, we rushed off to watch her run in the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on New Year’s Day. The track was a bog and in the straight she was leading but started going up and down on the spot like a rocking horse in the heavy going (remember when we used to have really wet springs / rain in Summer?) She ran second.

Have you had much success on the track?

My first two year old ever to race was a filly called Lady of the Pines, and her first start was in the Group 2 Marybrynong Plate at Flemington over the Cup Carnival. She won easily and I remember thinking to myself that horse racing wasn’t as hard as people had suggested.  Little did I realize it was just the hook to trap another racing devotee!

Lady of the Pines was my favorite horse and went on to win the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. But fate took her away from me when she was heavily pregnant with her first foal. When the foal died I was so devastated I wondered if I could continue on with racing when the lows were so deep. But then the unthinkable happened and my darling Lady never recovered from her travel sickness. Her trophy is in front of me every day when I write.

Catnipped went on to win the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic on the Gold Coast, bringing great celebrations for the syndicate I had put together to race her and a handful of other horses.

Have you bred any good horses?

As a breeder, my greatest highlights have been breeding Hasna who won two Group 1 races in Sydney, and Sound Action, a cheap breeding experiment gone right, who also won two Group 1 races. Over the years I have bred and raced many horses, including a few sent up to Singapore to race with ex-pat Aussie trainer John Meagher.

Who has helped you along the way?

Throughout my years in the racing industry, I have been constantly amazed by the people you meet, from trainers to vets; owners to stud masters; jockeys to strappers. I couldn’t have done it without all those with a love for the horse who helped my journey.

Hasna - A filly I bred who subsequently won two Group One races in Sydney