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Playing By The Rules

Oct 18, 2024

Will Hudson aids us with programming and identifies who he thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Dominetta, Saturday 19th October, Royal Randwick, Race 3: Dominetta resumed with a terrific victory to take out her maiden at Warwick Farm. Once you’ve broken your maiden as a three year old, you’re largely forced to step up in grade and contest Stakes races against your own age group or race older horses in Benchmark races which is often just as difficult to do. This race is a lovely steppingstone for her against her own age and sex, and the step up to 1400 metres is a positive. She’s trialled brilliantly since her win, going neck and neck with a talented horse rated 97 at Randwick, and she’s the joint second top rated horse in this race so I expect her to be fighting out the finish.   

Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale 2024

Sep 18, 2024

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale has been a very happy hunting ground for the Waterhouse/Bott stable, and it is hard to believe it is almost that time of year again. The success we have had buying out of this sale is remarkable, and we will once again be back in October to purchase our future Cups contenders. Last year we secured three outstanding types, BALANCE PLAY (Lope De Vega), BEAR ON THE LOOSE (Footstepsinthesand) and ROYAL PATRONAGE (Wootton Bassett). Balance Play came over as the youngest of the three, and although he hasn't been seen at the races yet, he had an impressive debut trial at Randwick last week and will be ready to rock 'n' roll in a months' time. Bear On The Loose won on his Australian debut last preparation at Rosehill over 1800 metres. He is back for the spring and will kick off his campaign in either the Group 3 Cameron Handicap on Friday at Newcastle, or Randwick on Saturday over 1600 metres. Last but certainly not least, Royal Patronage gave us a huge thrill a few weeks ago when winning the Group 2 Tramway Stakes on his Australian debut. He has really stamped himself as one to watch this spring. All three 'stayers' have bright futures. In addition to the above mentioned, in recent years we have selected and purchased from this sale Group 1 Metropolitan winner, JUST FINE, and Group 1 Sydney Cup winner KNIGHTS ORDER. Also purchased out of Europe, multiple Group 2 & Group 3 winner, MILITARY MISSION, and Group 1 placed NEW ENDEAVOUR.  Our Bloodstock Manager, Claudia Fitzgerald (Miller) will once again be at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale at Newmarket, UK with the sale being held between 28 October - 1st November. With the help of form expert Rob Waterhouse, Johnny McKeever and the entire Bloodstock team at Waterhouse/Bott, we are really looking forward to purchasing the next group of 'stayers' for the stable who can contest the rich Cups races in years to come. Read through our 2024 Stayers Package brochure here. If you would like to register your interest, please email Claudia Fitzgerald  claudia@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or call on 0422 545 990. 

Vale, Al Maher

Sep 17, 2024

Emirates Park have announced the sad news of the passing of their 2005 Group I VRC Australian Guineas winner Al Maher at age 23.Bred and raced by Emirates Park, Al Maher was humanely put to rest following a short illness after a long and fruitful stud career covering in 18 consecutive seasons with his last mares covered in 2022. Al Maher sired the winners of over $70million in prizemoney with 39 stakes-winners headed by Group I stars Delicacy, Diaomnd Drille, Fat Al, Almalad and current sprinting superstar Private Eye, his highest stakes earner with over $10million in prizemoney. Al Maher has also made his mark through his daughters, who have produced 1 stakes-winners highlighted by Group I winners Quick Thinker and Krone.

Waterhouse Bott Stable Tour: Lady Of Camelot to Climb Everest

Aug 21, 2024

Among the early 2-year-olds impressing Bott is a colt by the stable’s former G1 Golden Slipper hero Farnan, who now resides at Kia Ora Stud. The colt is the second foal from I Am Excited, a daughter of Snitzel who won seven races. I Am Excited’s victories included the G1 The Galaxy, the G2 Gilgai S., the G2 Victory S., the Listed Fireball S., and the Listed Darby Munro S. Presented by Bell River Thoroughbreds at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the colt was a $1.2 million purchase by Waterhouse and Bott, Kia Ora, the Farnan Partnership, and Mt Hallowell Stud. “He was a high-profile purchase up on the Gold Coast,” Bott told TTR AusNZ. “He looks like a nice, forward type of colt. He’s done everything right so far and has had a couple of preparations already. “He has sort of put his hand up pretty early, so he’ll be heading towards the official 2-year-old trials in September.” Bott also highlighted a filly by Zousain from the Not A Single Doubt mare Benella. She is a three-quarter sister to the G2 Challenge S. winner Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt) and Doutland, who won the G2 Danehill S. and now stands at Widden Stud in Victoria. The Zousain filly was presented by Widden Stud and purchased by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $160,000. “The Zousain filly we bought out of the Inglis Classic Sale from a mare named Benella looks like a nice, big, strong filly. She’s really gone ahead nicely and looks like she’s coping with everything well.” Another $1 million colt, purchased by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, is also showing the right signs. The son of Zoustar, out of the Foxwedge mare Villami, was purchased from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. His dam Villami won the Listed Fireball S. and was placed in the G2 Furious S. and the G2 Percy Sykes S. “He’s typical of the horse James (Harron) would select. He’s a nice, athletic, beautifully balanced, strong, forward colt.” Another to watch is the I Am Invincible colt from the Shamus Award mare Rosina Kojonup, who is a half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper S. and G1 Moir S. winner She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain). The colt was a $600,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “A colt from the Newgate syndicate by I Am Invincible out of Rosina Kojonup just has a really, really great mind. “He’s very professional and just has a real 2-year-old constitution.” The final 2-year-old highlighted by Bott is the Exceed And Excel filly, Wangi Wangi. The filly was a $500,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Fernrigg Farm. Wangi Wangi is from the Reset mare Tragic, who won as a 2-year-old and is closely related to the Group 2 winner Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and the G3 Canonbury S. victor Zethus (Exceed And Excel). “The Exceed And Excel filly from Tragic was purchased for the Valerie Syndicate from the Magic Millions. She’s been typical of the progeny of Exceed And Excel. We’d expect her to be sort of forward and precocious at this stage, which she is.” Lady to scale The Everest? On Monday, Waterhouse and Bott's G1 Golden Slipper S. winner, Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), was impressive in a trial at Randwick, defeating the likes of former The Everest winner Giga Kick (Scissor Kick). Following the trial, Bott indicated that the daughter of Written Tycoon would likely head to Melbourne for the G1 Moir S. He confirmed the plan with TTR AusNZ, adding, "She will head to the Moir first up. The aim is to try and get her a spot in The Everest. "All things going well, and if she shows that weight-for-age improvement, she looks like an obvious candidate for the race." Also stepping out on Monday at Randwick was the exciting colt Storm Boy (Justify {USA}). "He’ll most likely resume in the Run to the Rose or potentially the San Domenico. With the trials shifted, it's a question of whether that changes his first-up run or not. "Either way, Storm Boy will be going to the Run to the Rose and the Golden Rose. Then I’d say he’ll most likely be on a Caulfield Guineas path following that." Exciting prospects all round There is no shortage of talent at Tulloch Lodge, particularly in the 3-year-old ranks. In addition to Lady Of Camelot and Storm Boy, there’s the untapped talent of Mayfair (Fastnet Rock), another colt who also returned in style on Monday morning at Randwick. “Mayfair was excellent,” Bott said. “He’s a Golden Rose colt. He’ll resume in the San Domenico and go through the Run to the Rose.” Another promising prospect, though perhaps one for the future, is Dawn Service, a son of Justify (USA). He is the first foal from the three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar). Dawn Service broke his maiden at Hawkesbury and was placed in BM78 company last Saturday. “We have a good opinion of him. He’s still a little bit raw, still putting it together. We feel he’ll get over further, and he may head down to Melbourne shortly with a view to getting him out in trip. At this stage, he’s probably not quite a Golden Rose horse, so there are probably a few more options down in Victoria for him.” Speaking of Sunlight, her full sister Clean Energy created an impression in her first preparation. Unbeaten in two runs, including a last-start success in the Listed Bill Carter S., Bott shared the plan for the $2.6 million yearling: “We just gave her a bit of time off in the back end of her Queensland campaign. She’ll be on a Thousand Guineas path, though.” Prost (Snitzel), a victor of the G3 Canonbury S., also has plenty of options. “He is potentially a Golden Rose colt/Guineas style of horse. He’ll most likely resume in the Run to the Rose. He’s had the one trial, so we’ll see him at the trials again.” Bott also highlighted Espionage (Zoustar), who won the G3 Breeders’ Plate and the G3 Kindergarten S.: “He’ll probably resume in the Heritage S. He is a Coolmore colt. There’s also the possibility he’s a candidate for The Everest, or if we head to the Coolmore through a more traditional path of a race like the Roman Consul, there are a few roads that lead to the Coolmore.” With several exciting prospects for the spring, Bott added, “In some races, they will meet, but in fairness, they are all different types and styles of horses, so there are still varying options for a lot of them.” Tropical back in action Saturday’s G1 Winx S. will mark the return of Tulloch Lodge’s dual Group 1 winner Tropical Squall (Prized Icon). The 4-year-old was privately sold to Yulong earlier in the month and will debut in the operation’s bottle green silks. “She will run Saturday in the Winx S. That performance will sort of dictate the campaign, but ultimately, we’d like to see her finishing up in the Golden Eagle.” Tropical Squall’s Group 1-winning stablemate Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has also been nominated for Saturday, but Bott indicated he’s not committed to running. “Potentially, he’ll run. We hope he’s a Caulfield Cup-style of horse, so that’s where we’ll be trying to get to.” Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), who won last season’s G1 New Zealand Oaks, joined the Waterhouse and Bott stable last season. “She’s only just come back into work. She had a good spell off the back of that last campaign, so we’re probably going to see her at the back end of the Melbourne Carnival.” New Endeavour (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who was placed in the G1 Doomben Cup at his latest run, may be aimed at the Five Diamonds. Bott indicated that “he may stay in Sydney and run through races heading towards the Five Diamonds. The conditions of that event might be sort of too hard to ignore.” Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a multiple Group 2 winner, “could be a Caulfield Cup style of horse,” Bott shared. “He’s been a very good, very consistent horse for us.”Bott also highlighted Eliyass (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), a 6-year-old who has won seven of his nine starts. “He’s resuming on Saturday in the G3 Premier’s Cup, and he’s a Metropolitan-style of horse.”

George Altomonte Eulogy

Aug 19, 2024

I would like to start by welcoming you all here to celebrate the life of my father George. My family and I take great comfort in the outpouring of love and affection shown to us by all who knew him.Dad led an amazing full life. He was called different things by different people. Son of Caterina and George, Brother of Jose, Hilda and Betty, Husband to Rosa, Father to Me, Caterina and John, Grandfather to Carolina, Lara, Tommy, Giovanni, Emilia, Arabella and Georgio, Uncle to many, colleague, Boss, Mentor, Mechanic, Panel Beater, boat builder, Inventor, farmer, builder, car guy, Horse breeder and GABorn in Wahroonga in 1935, Dad was the only surviving son of Caterina and George who migrated from Italy.He attended Warrawee public school until he was 16 then North Sydney Tech where he studied motor mechanics, Panel beating and Spray painting.During the years of WW2, despite being a naturalised Australian, his father was interned at the Loveday camp in South Australia. This left Dad as the man of the house to look after his 3 sisters and mother as there was no such thing as welfare. To do this he worked the family market garden in Wahroonga where they grew potatoes as well asattending school.Even at a young age Dad always looked for a better way to do things. When he was about 17 he drew a plan of a machine that he could use to pull behind the family Clydesdale to help harvest the potatoes. He showed his plans to a neighbour who was so impressed he offered Dad the money to buy what he needed to build the machine, this money was given on the condition he builds 2, one for him and one for Dad. So he set off and with his mechanical skill built a horse drawn potato harvester. It worked so well that the neighbour told him that he must go to the Patent office in Sydney and patent it. Whilst in the queue someone approached Dad and asked to see what he had. Dad showed him his drawings and the man offered him 500 pounds there and then to sell him the plans. Dad had never seen so much money and as he said to me when telling the story, “I took that money so quick I think it may have burnt his fingers”. As it turned out the man worked for a company called International Harvester and Dads machine was the basis of the potato harvester we still see today.At 21 Dad bought a petrol station with a mechanical workshop on the corner of Fullers Rd and Pacific Highway, Chatswood. The site of the current VW Dealership and Head Office. Here he worked 18 hour days in order to get ahead, Pumping fuel and repairing cars.At around the same age, Dad wanted a boat. He had no money to buy a boat so he decided he would build one. He bought a plan of a model boat and scaled it up, He built the frame and then steamed every piece of timber to bend it into shape. Once complete he put an old truck motor in it. The boat could pull 6 water skiers out of the water without even breaking a sweat. That boat is the one pictured in your book.In 1961 at 26 Dad married my mum Rosa right here in the beautiful St Mary’s Cathedral. They went on their honeymoon to Italy by ship. Prior to going Dad had arranged to buy 4 brand new Fiat Cars and 4 new Fiat tractors which he planned to bring back to Australia and sell in Chatswood. They picked up one of the cars on arrival and used it to tour around Italy, You could call that car his first ever Demo. When it was time to return to Australia, he picked up the rest of the cars and tractors and loaded them onto the same ship that he was returning to Australia on. He said to me that everything he had in this world was on that ship.Once back home in Australia Dad bought himself a tow truck to expand the business. Mum would operate the telephone and radio Dad with the job details. He would go out in the tow truck at all hours of the day and tow the smashed cars back to his workshopin Chatswood. In those days it could take up to 6 months to get a car repaired as the vast majority of cars on the road were from Europe. By the time the parts list was sent by telex to the factory in Europe and then the parts were boxed up and sent to Australia by ship, often with a few parts missing, the process was very time consuming. Dad took this problem and made it into an opportunity. He would convince the owners of the smashed cars to just buy a new car rather than wait for the repair. Then he would buy the smashed car from them. He would eventually get all the parts and fix the car and put it out the front of his business in Chatswood and sell them. This was the beginning of his Car industry Career.In 1968 Dad was invited to become part of the Ford Dealer Development program. This is how all the household names in the Ford business began and Dad opened Alto Ford in Gordon. This was the turning point in his business life. Without going into every detail of his most amazing career in the Motor industry the business that started with 4 cars, 4 tractors and a tow truck has grown to 17 Dealerships with 4 more under construction, employing 700 staff, servicing 70,000 cars and selling 14,000 cars per year.Not only did Dad work very hard to improve his own business he also dedicated himself to improving the entire Motor industry. He was the Chairman of the Motor Trades association of NSW for many years. He wasn’t happy just helping the Dealers of NSW,he wanted to help every Dealer in Australia so he founded the Motor Trades association of Australia. In 2004 he was honoured with a Lifetime award for service to the Retail Motor Trades and I quote “for his 25 years conspicuous service to the interests of motor Vehicle Dealers and the retail motor trades through his participation in their representative bodies and for his significant role in the establishment of MTAA and for his services as the Foundation President of MTAA, Foundation Chairman of the MTAA Superannuation Fund and Foundation Chairman of MTAA House in Canberra”.Very few people know that Dad started a super fund. He wanted to ensure that every worker in the Motor industry had a secure future. He didn’t want the industry to get forced into one of the union backed super funds. I can say for sure he did it for all the Mechanics out there, just like him, that were too busy working hard for their families without time to focus on their retirement. The MTAA super fund went on to become one of the largest super funds in Australia and is now known as Spirit Super.If all of this wasn’t enough Dad also decided he wanted to continue with farming. Given his childhood on the land Dad was keen to buy a farm. Eventually he found one inBranxton in the Hunter Valley. This farm was 2,000 acres and he started by growingcattle. He was one of the pioneers of Artificial Insemination of cattle in Australia. He did all his research and decided he was going to grow a breed of cattle called Chianina. This breed is one of the largest and oldest breeds in the world and was very drought tolerant. Dad thought this was fantastic as he would produce a bigger animal and therefore get more money for them. Unfortunately, none of the books he read explained how downright mad they were. I can remember as a kid Dad running for his life out of the cattle yards with a giant white cow in hot pursuit. He jumped the fence in a single bound. Dad was a very quick learner and the Chianina breeding program only lasted about 3 years.Branxton was the place his horse breeding career started. Dad decided he was going to breed horses and the stock horse was where he would begin. He did all his research, as he always did, and eventually bought a Stallion named Cecil Bruce. Cecil Bruce was Australia’s first ever registered Stock Horse. Rego number 1. Dad loved breeding horses but soon discovered there was no money in Stock Horses. A friend of his told him that if he wanted to breed horses then he should be breeding thoroughbreds.At around the same time Dad decided he wanted a bigger farm and so the search began. He and I would spend every weekend driving all over NSW looking at farms. I have so many fond memories of dad and I in his big Fords. We told stories and laughed. He used the time to share so much of his knowledge and we would discuss so many things.The car cassette player had just been introduced by Ford; they were the in-car 8- track tape player. They were very big. This was a game changer for Dad and I on our long road trips as the radio only worked in towns. Originally, he only had 2 cassettes, Neil Diamond Hot August Night and Neil Diamond Hot August night. The old cassettes would get hot after a while and start to distort so it was my job to get the hot one out of the player to cool down and fit the cool one in the player. That player was a dangerous piece of equipment in those days, if you didn’t get your fingers out of the way quickly there was every chance it would take them with the cassette.After thousands of kilometres and endless weekends on the road Dad found the farm he wanted at Dunedoo. Here he set up the Thoroughbred horse stud, vowed we would only ever grow Angus or Hereford cattle and got his Merino sheep herd underway. Over the years that followed he would buy any neighbour who wanted to sell and from an initial farm of 4,800 acres he grew that farm to 18,000 acres. A few years later he bought two farms near Gunnedah on the Liverpool Plain where he grew cotton, wheat and sorghum and although he vowed only Angus and Hereford cattle, he eventually decided Wagyu were ok. Today his rural holdings amount to 40,000 acres and for Dad that was just his side Gig. It was the place he was most happy and relaxed, and he was passionate about his farms.Growing up with an Italian background during the years of WW2 was tough for Dad but rather than get bitter at the way he was treated Dad just grew stronger. He told me that those tough years as a kid is what made him determined to become self-made and selfreliant. Dad approached everything he did with 100% effort and focus. He was a perfectionist. Nothing was left to chance, and nothing was left unfinished. His memory was extraordinary.My Dad was a man who never faulted in living by his values. He would often say to me “Anthony always do the right thing, If they don’t like it it’s their problem and you canalways walk around with your head held high”. My Dad always did the right thing even if it was to his own detriment. He fulfilled every promise he made, and his word was his bond. His family were his beginning, middle and end. When you spoke to Dad, no matter how busy he was, he would always stop to listen, he would be present, and never did he make anyone feel they were imposing on his time. No matter what he achieved or what he had he was always humble.Dad was a great teacher. His method was simple, he taught by example. Whenever I am not sure what to do I find myself thinking “what would Dad do”Dad touched so many people’s lives. Although I was aware of it, the messages we have received after his passing have taken me by surprise. Some of the words used to describe Dad are: Present, A bloody good bloke, my mentor, Titan, Humble, Clever, Shrewd, he never lost his common touch. One of our staff wrote “we sincerely bow our heads in deep gratitude to George Altomonte for giving us the opportunity to work for him, so that many of us, including ourselves, can dream of a hopeful future and lead a stable life with our beloved families, all because of him”I always wished my dad would live forever. Given the legacy he has left behind I guess my wish was granted.Dad, we are going to remember you for everything you did for us. We are going to miss you. Your decency, sincerity and kindness will stay with us forever. What we will remember you most by is the love you had for all of us. You put in a huge life and worked so hard. Rest now and thank you for so many wonderful memories. We Love You.

Tulloch Lodge 2023/24 Season Review

Aug 12, 2024

In review of the 2023/24 Australian racing season, it is rewarding to see our Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott training partnership lift to another level from last season, our previous best. We trained more Group 1, Stakes, and Metropolitan wins than any other season, and in turn our horses and their owners won more prize-money in total. Below is a table which compares our Tulloch Lodge results since our partnership began in the 2016/17 season: Some key points of interest for you: Metropolitan Performance: The quality of the stable along with our intent to maximise earnings for owners has seen a real shift in our representation of runners in Metropolitan races. Three seasons ago (21/22) for every Metro runner we had in NSW, we would have a runner in the Provincial or Country at a 1:1 ratio. This was the same four seasons ago. In 2022/23 the ratio moved to 1.95 Metro runners per 1 Provincial/Country runner in NSW, and this past season that improved again to 2.68:1. Given we saddled our most number of runners this season we can surmise that our owners are attending Metropolitan races with runners over two and half times more now than they were just two seasons prior. Our stable's prize-money per starter has increased as a result too. More good news for owners. 2YOs: We had another strong year with our 2YOs. The quality was up with 11 Stakes races won by 2YOs this season, versus 7 last year. Plus our 2YOs were able to win 4 of the 12 $1m+ races for their age group via Lady Of Camelot (Golden Slipper), Storm Boy (MM 2YO Classic), Fully Lit (Inglis Millenium) and Shangri La Express (Golden Gift). Hopefully this bodes well for 3YOs this season. Stable Champion 2YO: Sir Owen Glenn's Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT was our Champion 2YO of the season, and she will be Australian Racing's too. She went very close to winning the Blue Diamond as well. Lady Of Camelot was also our highest prize-money earner this season collecting just over $3.5m over 5 starts. Notable mention to Storm Boy who carried the Cunningham Thoroughbreds silks to third in the Golden Slipper, won the Magic Million 2YO Classic and two other Group races in his 2YO campaign. He was our second highest prize-money earner for the season with $2.6m. 3YOs: Our 3YOs who made up our record 2YO winning tally the year before converted nicely into 11 Stakes winners last season, 2 at Group 1 level. This was our best up from 9 Stakes winners the season before. Our 3YOs won 85 times versus 57 the year before too, so as you might expect that good 2YO crop continued their success in their 3YO season for us and it bodes well for the newly turned 3YOs in Tulloch Lodge for this coming season. Stable Champion 3YO: Gooree's TROPICAL SQUALL was good enough to win at Group 1 level in the Spring and the Autumn of her 3YO season in the Flight Stakes and Surround Stakes respectively. She was one of 7x $1m+ earners for the stable with $1,014,000 accumulated over 8 starts and 3 wins. Older Horses: Our older horses made another valuable contribution to our stable with 55 wins and over $11m in prize-money, basically on par with the season before. Keeping quality gallopers sound and happy really pays off for owners in terms of fun and earnings, plus our girls and boys who look after them love having them around. They are stable favourites. Stable Champion Older Horse:  Gerry Harvey's ALLIGATOR BLOOD was a super star again for the stable adding 2 Group 1 wins in the Spring to take his total Group 1 wins to 6 for our stable. He is the most decorated racehorse since our partnership began and holds a very special place in our hearts.  Millionaires: We were blessed to have 7 racehorses in our care win over $1m in prize-money this season versus 2 last year and 3 the year before. These included Lady Of Camelot, Storm Boy, Alligator Blood, Hawaii Five Oh, Fully Lit, Military Mission, & Tropical Squall.   Stable Most Winningest Horse: This was shared by STORM BOY & INVINCIBLE SPY with 4 wins apiece. Storm Boy we know well, while Invincible Spy in the First Light Racing silks did a great job to work his way through his grades quickly this year from a Newcastle maiden win over 1400m to a Randwick Saturday race win over 1800m, and two wins in between. He looks a nice progressive 4YO for his owners going into this season.   Stable Horse with Most Starts: MILITARY MISSION in the Montague/Lilley silks and GOLD BULLION in the Newgate/China Horse Club Colts syndicate colours both averaged a start a month in the 2023/24 season, 12 runs in total. Military Mission won two Group 2 races at Caulfield amongst his 3 wins, while Gold Bullion won 2 of his races at Caulfield and Flemington before being first past the post in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate and being then relegated to second unfortunately.    Stable Champion Jockey: Tim Clark took out this title for the seventh straight year for our partnership with 38 wins, 1 more than the season prior. Second was Adam Hyeronimus with 34 wins. Adam being the last jockey to ride the most winners for our stable since Tim went on his winning streak in our first season together, 2016/17. Stable Most Winning Metropolitan Track: As you would expect our home track at Randwick accounted for most of our wins this season with 24 first prizes, Rosehill next with 19 wins and then Randwick Kensington with 18. Interestingly, the season prior it was Rosehill over Warwick Farm then Kembla Grange. Stable Most Winning Provincial Track: Newcastle, Hawkesbury and Wyong all shared 7 wins apiece at the top of the leaderboard, Wyong with our best strike rate of 29% winners to runners. Stable Most Winning Distance: 1200m accounted for most of our wins with 33, 1100m next with 30 wins but a slightly better strike rate at 25%. Our runners also recorded victory at a better strike rate on Good tracks versus any other surface, while our first starters deserve to be followed closely, striking at a 28% win rate on debut. We are proud of our team and our horses at Tulloch Lodge who were able to deliver our best season yet in 2023/24.  Thanks to the magnificent support of our ownership group, we feel very well placed to do even better again this season and that is what we will be striving to do. Thank you for your support and we look forward to rewarding you with winners & fun again this season. Yours in racing, Gai & Adrian

The 2024 Waterhouse/Bott Golf Classic: BOOK YOUR TEAM TODAY

Aug 7, 2024

In April 2023 the Inaugural Waterhouse/Bott Golf Classic took place at The Coast Golf Club and thanks to the support of our clients and sponsors we raised over $12,000 for Equine Pathways Australia. This year we look forward to welcoming you back to The Coast on Monday 30th September for the 2024 edition. 18 hole competition, 4-person ambrose (all levels welcome) Breakfast, lunch & drinks package included Take on Gai & Adrian in the longest drive & closest to the pin competitions Team up with stable jockeys Tim Clark, Adam Hyeronimus & Nash Rawiller Post round drinks at The Doncaster Hotel, Kensington Ladbrokes Party Hole & Monster Putt Plenty of prizes up for grabs $250 per person with proceeds going to our chosen charity, Equine Pathways Australia. Read more about the incredible work they do here.  Contact Emma Coleman for more information or to book in your team ecoleman@gaiwaterhouse.com.au  

Official Launch: Waterhouse/Bott Merchandise Store

Aug 6, 2024

Unleash your inner racing enthusiast with the new Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing merchandise range. From the trackside to the everyday, our CORE RANGE has you covered. Customise your look with the official stable polo, vest, jacket, cap, beanie, and crew socks, all personalised with your own silks and horse's name. But that's not all, celebrate your favourite champion with our STABLE STAR collection. Featuring hoodies and t-shirts for ALLIGATOR BLOOD, LADY OF CAMELOT, MAJOR BEEL, MILITARY MISSION and PLATINUM JUBILEE. Can't find your stable star? Don't worry, we can create a custom design just for you. Shop the range via our website here. CORE RANGE: Pre-order now until August 15th for delivery commencing 7th October STABLE STARS RANGE: Orders will be dispatched within 10 days from order placement 

Under The Radar Stallions We Love

Jul 5, 2024

Come sale time we love hunting for progeny by young stallions who we've had successful exposure to, as often we don't have to pay up for the level of confidence we have in the individual before us. It is the benefit we have with our scale which in a way, helps us beat the market while at the same time creating value for our owners. Zoustar is a stallion we caught on too early and we have had six Stakes winners by him in the last two seasons as an example - North Star Lass, Platinum Jubilee, Zia, Zoumon, and highly promising 2YOs, Espionage and Clean Energy. Currently there are three stallions who we have more than our fair share of exposure and success with, and hence we have targeted their yearlings this year providing they stack up on type to meet our expectations. We can then go in to bid with confidence knowing: a) the ones we have seen previously by this stallion, that look like this, can gallop b) the stock of this stallion clearly appreciate our Tulloch Lodge training & education system Shhhhhhh: Please don't tell anyone, but three stallions we feel the general market has not discovered yet are: MAURICE:  2024 - we secured 7 yearlings for the stable at an average of $241,000 Success: we have trained three of Maurice's 9 Australian Stakes winners including Kibou, Ganbare and Azula RUSSIAN REVOLUTION:  2024 - we secured 5 yearlings for the stable at an average of $160,000 Success: we have trained four of his 11 Stakes winners including Red Resistance, Rise Of The Masses, The Instructor and Russian Roni.  WRITTEN BY:  2024 - we secured 5 yearlings for the stable at an average of $150,000 Success: we have trained 2 of Written By's 3 Stakes winners to date including Straight Charge and The Novelist. Russian Revolution x Miss Aubrey Colt: Purchase Price: $150,000 Magic Millions 2024 Shares Available: Yes Colours Available: No At Magic Millions January we secured a Russian Revolution colt out of Miss Aubrey for $150,000 based on the thinking we have outlined above. His shape, size and action is exactly what we saw with the other 4 Stakes winning colts by Russian Revolution in our stable, he looked a very likely type and now he is doing 'likely' things. Check out his sale page and pedigree here. Watch his latest video update here. Having been bought so early this colt is a long way through his education and is currently in the stable in his second preparation and is really impressing Adrian, Gai and those that ride him. His pedigree is a proven getter of fast horses, with his grand-dam a full sister to Court Command, and he is a very interesting mirroring of great speed influences Nureyev and Danehill 4x4 in his bloodline grid. Based on his price and what we have seen so far, we think this colt is outstanding value, so Gai, Adrian, Claudia and Bruce jumped on a video together to tell you more: For more information please touch base with our bloodstock team. Claudia Fitzgerald - claudia@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or 0422 545 990 Emma Coleman - ecoleman@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or 0474 161 041 Bruce Slade - bruce@kestrelthoroughbreds.com.au or 0400 505 238 Bring on the Magic Millions we say! Happy Racing, Gai & Adrian

Fastnet Fillies Rock & You Get The Lot

Jun 6, 2024

The next group of owners to race a stakes winning FASTNET ROCK filly, and later offer her off the track as a broodmare prospect, are going to "get the LOT".   We think we have just the yearling filly in our care by FASTNET ROCK out of a winning LONHRO mare and she still has 40% remaining to fulfill her ownership.   What We Know: You see, we know that Fastnet Rock has been an Australian Champion Sire on multiple occasions. His class is now being carried through his daughters where this season 2023/24 he is set to be crowned Australian Champion Broodmare Sire for the very first time, a title held by either Redoute's Choice or Encosta De Lago over the past 8 seasons, and Danehill and Zabeel before that.    We have felt the positive effects of his classy daughters first hand, the two best 2YOs in our stable this season, Group 1 Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT & Magic Millions winner and Group 1 Golden Slipper 3rd STORM BOY, are both out of Fastnet Rock mares. Platinum Jubilee is another, the $3.5m racefilly sold from our stable at last week's Magic Millions Broodmare Sale.   Of course breeders have full appreciation for Fastnet Rock as a broodmare sire and are willing to pay handsomely for his daughters in the marketplace, for all levels of racetrack performance. Importantly the breeders with some of the deepest pockets, those with equity in Australia's two highest priced stallions I AM INVINCIBLE & ZOUSTAR, are chasing Fastnet Rock mares as they are proving potent when crossed with their own successful stallions:   Zoustar/Fastnet Rock mares =  51 runners 40 winners (78.4% winners to runners) 6 stakes winners (12% stakes winners to runners) 11 stakes horses (22% stakes horses to runners) 3 Group 1 winners - Joliestar, Zougotcha & Climbing Star Note: 50% Group 1 winners to Stakes winners is incredible & three of Zoustar's 7 Australian Group 1 winners are out of Fastnet Rock mares.   I Am Invincible/Fastnet Rock mares =  54 runners 41 winners (76% winners to runners) 4 stakes winners (7.4% stakes winners to runners) 15 stakes horses (28% stakes horses to runners) Fastnet Rock's potency with Justify should be noted also, given his success across all continents and Coolmore's global business approach.   Justify/Fastnet Rock mares =  19 runners 14 winners (74% winners to runners) 4 stakes winners (21% stakes winners to runners) 5 stakes horses (26% stakes horses to runners) Note: including Justify's best Australian colt and filly to date; Storm Boy & Learning To Fly. Supply Constraints: The only problem for breeders in hot pursuit of Fastnet's daughters is, supply. Only two Fastnet mares were offered at the Inglis Chairman's Sale: $450,000 for Rocket Science - a two time winner and 4th in a Group 3 in foal to Justify $525,000 for Star Rockette - unraced and in foal to Kingman At Magic Millions only three young mares by Fastnet Rock were offered as maidens off the track or in foal for the first time: $120,000 for Fastina - off the track where she had had two starts for a 5th and a 7th $370,000 for Exile - a winner at Kyneton in foal to Street Boss $220,000 for Tapestries - unraced and in foal to Pinatubo   What You May Not Know: Unfortunately the shortage of young Fastnet Rock mares for sale in Australia is only going to get worse. At the age of 23 last season, Fastnet Rock failed to achieve a pregnancy and Coolmore have since pensioned their Champion stallion.   His fertility was declining ahead of his pension and in the last two breeding seasons Fastnet Rock has produced just 16 fillies according to the Australian Studbook: Born in 2023 - current foals = 5 fillies Born in 2022 - current yearlings = 11 fillies What a talented racing daughter of Fastnet Rock could make off the track at auction is anyone's guess, and unfortunately we won't know anytime soon as his stakes winning daughters in Australia over the past three seasons (4) are already controlled by leading Australian breeders:   PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE - GSA Bloodstock (Jonathan Munz) SNEAKY FIVE - Rosemont Stud HELLFEST - Godolphin BRIGHT BLUE SKY - unfortunately passed away for Te Akau   Our job therefore, is to race the next top performing filly by Fastnet Rock out of Tulloch Lodge so we can find out and, just as importantly, send this great racehorse and stallion out with a bang. VIDEO: YEARLING SPOTLIGHT - Fastnet Rock x Archangel '22 Filly Gai, Adrian, Bruce and Emma preview the beautiful Fastnet Rock x Archangel filly in this week's 'Yearling Spotlight' video below. The long and the short of it is that a filly like this is in limited supply (on of 16), and she is the best & highest rated Fastnet Rock filly we have seen at the yearling sales in the last three years. As you have seen from the 2024 broodmare sale results above, she has a good base of residual value to fall back on, but we think she can do much better than that. This Fastnet Rock filly is one we have loved all the way through and she is currently in the stable awaiting your inspection. Fastnet Rock x Archangel '22 Filly Purchase Price: $300,000 Magic Millions  Shares Available: 40% available Raised at: Coolmore Expected Racing Profile: Lovely style of filly with the strength to come early, and the scope to make a Guineas filly as a 3YO. Colours: Gold, Purple Star, Gold And White Stars Sleeves, Purple Cap. Education Progress: In for her second education preparation at Randwick. Sireline: By Champion Sire and Broodmare Sire, Fastnet Rock. Think fillies by this incredible stallion like Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen, Shoals, First Seal, Catchy, Amicus amongst his 23 Group 1 winning daughters. Damline: From a Lonhro mare who comes from a very fast, good looking/selling and current Australian family via Sretan Angel.  The Cross: Fastnet Rock has had 7 fillies run out of Lonhro mares for 3 (43%) stakes performed fillies and 2 stakes winning fillies (29%) - proper ones too in SERENE MAJESTY & BRIGHT BLUE SKY. See her sales page and pedigree here. View footage of her walking here. Watch her gallop from Tuesday morning here (please note she is furthest from the camera). For more information or to reserve your share in a filly that we think will sell out this time in, please contact our friendly bloodstock team: *Please note Claudia Fitzgerald  (Miller) is currently on annual leave Claudia Fitzgerald - claudia@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or 0422 545 990 Emma Coleman - ecoleman@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or 0474 161 041 Bruce Slade - bruce@kestrelthoroughbreds.com.au or 0400 505 238 We look forward to the challenge of making this lovely daughter of Fastnet Rock a Group 1 winner, let alone a stakes winner. Let's make it happen, Gai & Adrian

Playing By The Rules

Apr 27, 2024

Will Hudson aids us with programming and identifies who he thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Pulchritudinous, Saturday 27th April, Race 7 Morphettville, Group 1 Australasian Oaks: First things first, it’s pronounced puhl·kruh·choo·duh·nuhs and it means “beautiful”, despite not necessarily being the prettiest word. This New Zealand bred filly was last seen winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400 metres at Trentham in mid-March. Prior to that she had won a Group 2 over 2000 metres, and simply put this filly has thrived since getting out to 2000 metres and beyond. She was purchased by Yulong Stud after her Oaks win, and we are the lucky beneficiaries as she is shaping up to be an extremely exciting filly. She’s taken everything in her stride since crossing the Tasman, and she hit the line strongly in a recent 1200-metre trial at Randwick which should fine tune her for this outing. She’s settled in well since travelling south to Morphettville, and her even temperament is another big plus that is going to stand her in good stead. She’s rated 98 and the next best on ratings is twelve points inferior to her on 86, which highlights how much better the handicapper believes she is to her rivals. They’re all carrying 56kg so on her rating she’s very well in at the weights, and for this reason she is well placed. Yes, she’s dropping back from 2400 metres which isn’t always ideal, but the six-week freshen up between runs should ensure there’s enough speed in her legs to cope with this. Tim Clark is travelling down to ride her which is another big sign in and of itself, and with even luck in running she should be extremely hard to beat.  

Playing By The Rules

Apr 19, 2024

Will Hudson aids us with programming and identifies who he thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Kibou, Saturday 20th April, Royal Randwick, Race 10: This talented son of Maurice’s two trials this time in have been extremely encouraging. I love how he’s attacked the line in each of them, and he appears to have returned at the top of his game. He’s rated 86 so resuming in a Benchmark 88 Handicap is ideal from a placement perspective, and he won first-up in the same grade of race over the same distance last preparation so he’s really ticking all the right boxes. He was rated 82 on that occasion, so he has 2kg more on his back here which makes life slightly tougher. However, he was a Group 3 winner in his early three-year-old career before injury intervened so he’s a very talented gelding who will hopefully return to that higher grade later in his preparation. Regan knows him inside out, and whilst he might have to do a bit of work from barrier 13 he should be able to overcome this to be right there at the finish.