Gai Waterhouse, arguably one of the top trainers in the world and certainly in Australia is writing some articles for TDN (Thoroughbred Daily News). Here is a link to the first for those who do not subscribe.
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/shared_content.cfm?id=1825
Personally, I’m not sure what is “unorthodox” about her methods, other than the fact that the US trend has been to race our top horses less and less instead of more and more. I was also a little unclear about her two weeks prior to the race. I’m assuming my misunderstanding is just difference in terminology. I think she means no works/breezing, not that they’re only walking, jogging, or not doing anything at all…
I was just surprised to learn that Australia has such intense 2 y/o campaigns. I honestly am extremely ignorant when it comes to Australia racing, but from what I thought I knew about it, I wouldn’t have pegged a 6F sprint to be one of their “stallion making” races.
I’ve participated on the Aussie TBV (Thoroughbred Village website) for a number of years. For the most part, I found their members none to keen on we yanks, but from a educational experience it is worth the pain and insults now that OZ has become such a significant player in the world of racehorse breeding. Also, I’ve found that Gai and her husband are the brunt of much sarcasm and jokes despite her success. Gai’s husband and his father have been reported to be involved in the seedier side of horse betting too. When it come to a “soap opera” experience nothing compares to OZ. Not even “NJ Housewives.”
Australian racing is a very interesting subject to discuss. It has no “selling” races for one thing and has an intense annual racing schedule. Aussies think that we yanks run too many low end stakes races thus our “blacktype” breeding is of no value. They forget that breeding in OZ is sustained primarily on the back of one stallion line, NORTHERN DANCER. That said, LONHRO, shuttling now between the states and OZ, has become very popular in the NA. Haven’t kept track of it, but I believe LONHRO has a son also shuttling back and forth. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a number of other OZ stallions shuttling back and forth in the future. I am surprised that SUNDAY SILENCE is not prevalent in OZ/NZ bloodlines currently.
One of my most prized books is “Winning Trainers” by Ross Staaden, an Aussie equine scientist. Both Gai’s father, Tommy Smith, and D. Wayne Lukas are featured in this very informative conversational style, sadly out of print, book on training methods. If it can be found, I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject of the training flat or harness racehorses.
I agree with Texakana. Don’t know what is meant by “unorthrdox.” The Pacific Rim has intense gambling venues (to the point of addiction) and that drives all sporting activities. As far as experience and knowledge, Gai would have had to live her younger years with blinders on and ear plugs in not to have learned something from her father. Also, she probably inherited some trained staff from her father that have helped to sustain her “winning stable.”
Be that as it may, thanks Gumtree for posting this. I get TDN so I’ll be on the lookout for the next edition but hope you will continue posting to the thread.
“I am also always very mindful of making sure my 2-year-olds jump well.” Is “jump” slang for something???
[QUOTE=Flash44;7982698]
“I am also always very mindful of making sure my 2-year-olds jump well.” Is “jump” slang for something???[/QUOTE]
Jump out of the gate (or ‘barrier’ as the Aussies would call it).
Many people outside of Oz have the misconception that Aussie racing is about longer races. I’m sure this is because it’s most famous race is the Melbourne Cup a 2 mile handicap. But the MC is really not representative of Aussie racing, and esp not Aussie breeding anymore.
Where the Aussies excel is in turf sprinting, and that is what their breeding industry is geared towards.
It has gotten to the point where only a handful of the 24 runners that line up in the gate every year for the Melbourne Cup are Aus bred anymore, most are imported from (or trained in) Europe and NZ. I think was it last year or the year before, there were actually more US bred horses in the Melbourne Cup than Aus breds.
The Golden Slipper is the richest 2yo race in the world and is much more coveted by Aussie breeders than the MC.
[QUOTE=Flash44;7982698]
“I am also always very mindful of making sure my 2-year-olds jump well.” Is “jump” slang for something???[/QUOTE]
The Aussies have their own societal “lingo.” I am aware from studying racehorse training in the “commonwealth nations” that historically young horses are exposed to “jumps” early in training no matter what the ultimate racing venue. Steeplechase racing is big in the UK as you know and I am aware that it also has a big fan base in OZ and NZ. Just my guess, but I think that is what Gai is referring too.
I know trainers, alot of former UK trainers like Neil Morris, Michael Dickinson, Graham Motion et al expose young horses to jumps here in the states. Bill Boniface at Bonita Farm in MD was known for this type of program and I think his children carry on this program. The late Paul Fout was involved in both venues.
You’ve got to remember that Aussie racing doesn’t include “claiming” races so trainers have got to have a place for horses to go if they don’t make it on the flat or vice a versa. Oddly, I’ve never heard of “unwanted horse” problem in OZ. Ivor Herbert wrote an excellent book (probably out of print) “Six at the top” that discusses UK training practices as it relates to training for jumps and in some case on to the flat.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;7982876]
Jump out of the gate (or ‘barrier’ as the Aussies would call it).[/QUOTE]
We must have posted about the same time. This seems plausible also and probably a more likely explanation than mine. :yes:
Here’s a post off an Aussie website related to Gai’s article.
Unorthodox means in relation to the rest of the bloody World, having a 2yo race as the blue riband. Geraldo - Kent, England
See what you have to suffer through on a “commonwealth horsey” website. Did a little research and came up with this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investec_Derby_Trial
So apparently the “slipper” in OZ and “blue riband” in the UK are similar.
As I am sure you know, language in OZ is an obstacle for even those who communicate by the “king’s English.”
Agree with your additional commentary about OZ. As you suggest, we think of Aussie racing as turf and distance and yet with that in mind LONHRO is an interesting take on their breeding program, me thinks. Many of their great horses are sprinters, most recently BLACK CAVIAR and they’ve got one running now (forget the name) who is lightning fast. We Americans are generally out of touch with international racing. I know I get quite confused.
Worked for one of the above mentioned trainers and was well acquainted with another, neither of which jumped (as in jumping jumps, lol) their flat horses to the best of my knowledge. But some of their flat horses did go on to race over jumps, so of course they got schooled. And sheesh riding 2 yo’s is hard enough sometimes without going over jumps, so maybe she does mean breaking from the gate???
I agree. Breaking from the gate makes more sense.
When taken in context to this;
Over the years, I have managed to be able to adjust a training schedule in order to maximize a 2-year-olds chances of developing better balance.
I assumed when she said this;
“I am also always very mindful of making sure my 2-year-olds jump well. It gives them the edge, essential for winning any Group 1 event.”
She means over jumps, schooling over logs and such. Something that I do with all of our 2 year olds. As do a number of others I respect. Really not that uncommon. Michael Matts sets up little jumps in his shed row at Fair Hill and “schools” over from time to time.
“Developing better balance”,
What I say when asked, IMO helps makes them more athletic, balanced, careful of and aware of where their feet are. If they get bumped in a race they have no problem keeping and or re-gathering their balance without losing stride, and or “jarring” themselves.
No, we do not school the crap out of them. And do not make this part of their regular training. I just mix things up from time to time. Pop a few logs that are placed on the sides of my gallops after warming up and before we do a bit of work. Couple times a month take a stroll through our woods to expose them to lots of different stuff and pop over logs on the trails.
Trainers have always complimented us on how well prepared out youngsters are when the get them. They are “ready to roll” unlike the ones we get from the “breaking factories” as they have told me.
But I agree she could have been referring to getting them to “break sharp” Getting the “jump” on the rest out of the gate. Or the “barrier” as it is still referred to in some parts of the world. A “hold over” term from back in the day when a “tape barrier” strung across the starting line was used before the “gate” was developed. Breaking sharp is pretty important in sprint races.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;7981022]
Personally, I’m not sure what is “unorthodox” about her methods, other than the fact that the US trend has been to race our top horses less and less instead of more and more. I was also a little unclear about her two weeks prior to the race. I’m assuming my misunderstanding is just difference in terminology. I think she means no works/breezing, not that they’re only walking, jogging, or not doing anything at all…
I was just surprised to learn that Australia has such intense 2 y/o campaigns. I honestly am extremely ignorant when it comes to Australia racing, but from what I thought I knew about it, I wouldn’t have pegged a 6F sprint to be one of their “stallion making” races.[/QUOTE]
Its not her methods that are unorthodox - she wrote that the race she was talking about aiming for was unorthodox
"I know that many in the Northern Hemisphere can’t believe that in a racing-mad country like Australia, one of our biggest races would be a scamper over six furlongs for 2-year-olds.
Unorthodox, yes, but the truth is that the Golden Slipper has played a vital role in Australian racing and breeding since its inauguration in 1957. "
She is certainly referring to the “jump” from the gate. If you listen to Aussie commentators, they will often refer to the break as the “jump”. Here’s a few of examples…
2013 Lightning Stakes (Black Caviar’s 23rd win in a row).
2002 Yalumba Stakes (great battle between two of the greatest Aussie horses ever, Lonhro vs Sunline)
1982 Cox Plate (Kingston town wins his 3rd Cox Plate in a row).
2014 Caufield Cup (the ill fated Japanese trained Admire Rakti wins).
Also, jump racing is a tiny sport in Aus, even smaller than it is in the US, so unlikely they would be sending horses over jumps at a young age.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;7984346]
She is certainly referring to the “jump” from the gate. If you listen to Aussie commentators, they will often refer to the break as the “jump”. Here’s a few of examples…
2013 Lightning Stakes (Black Caviar’s 23rd win in a row).
2002 Yalumba Stakes (great battle between two of the greatest Aussie horses ever, Lonhro vs Sunline)
1982 Cox Plate (Kingston town wins his 3rd Cox Plate in a row).
2014 Caufield Cup (the ill fated Japanese trained Admire Rakti wins).
Also, jump racing is a tiny sport in Aus, even smaller than it is in the US, so unlikely they would be sending horses over jumps at a young age.[/QUOTE]
As I said in my last paragraph, I don’t disagree. It is just the “way” it read to me at first. For reasons given. I am very familiar with the term having spent a fair bit of time racing in Europe and around some of the flat training yards in Newmarket and Lambourn.
Popping 2 year olds over logs from time to time has nothing to do with preparing them for a future over jumps. I guess I didn’t explain the reasons very well.
We mainly raise and train for the flat. I try to have a couple of Jumpers as a side line for personal reasons. There’s little to no money to be made in this country. Flat’s hard enough.
Gumtree’s training methods are what I was alluding to and are described frequently in UK books on juvenile racehorse training.
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