The Matamata-based Danica Guy was an accomplished horsewoman in the equestrian arena and visited the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 1999 in search of a likely sport horse prospect.
She bought a son of Sky Chase (NZ) for NZ$6000 and that purchase later provided the surprise catalyst for Guy to change tack and set her on a path to a full-time training career with Group 1 success on her CV.
“I’ve been training for about 19 years now. I’m not from a racing family and I was an eventing rider and came through the sport horse side of things,” Guy said.
“When I was looking to hang up my riding boots I really got into racing by accident. We bought a horse at the yearling sales to become an eventer and obviously it’s a long time between buying them as a yearling and starting to compete.”
Guy was granted a trainer’s licence in the 2000/01 season to try Aerozone (NZ) herself with an immediate result that caught the attention of one of Australia’s highest-profile racing identities.
“He finished second in his first start and I sold him to Lloyd Williams for good money and I thought this is easy. That was my introduction,” Guy said.
“He finished second in his first start and I sold him to Lloyd Williams for good money and I thought this is easy.” – Danica Guy
“He won his first start in Australia and they nominated him for the G1 Caulfield and G1 Melbourne Cups that year, but he strained a tendon in work.
“They tried to bring him back and nominated him for the Cups again the next year, but he went amiss again and that was it.”
It wasn’t for Guy though, who was bitten by the bug and she’s since forged a successful career as a trainer.
Danica Guy
“I am self-taught, but if you are a good horse person you can pick things up quite quickly, I made a lot of mistakes, I know that but that’s how you learn,” she said.
“Lots of people have helped me along the way and I couldn’t pick any one person out to be honest. Everyone is always very helpful and we’re all in it together, it’s a tough old game and there’s plenty of camaraderie and now I try to help other people.”
Guy enjoyed moderate success from small numbers before Gobi Ranger (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) came into her stable.
He won his first two starts as a 2-year-old, including the G3 Eclipse S. at Ellerslie and was third the following season in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and later sold to Singapore interests.
Rios a game-changer
The next major player in Guy’s career was Rios (NZ), a son of Hussonet (USA), who won the G2 Wellington Guineas from Murray Baker’s stable and placed in the NZ 2000 Guineas before beginning his stud career at Waikato Stud.
Under her Upstage Bloodstock banner, Guy bought a son of Rios at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for NZ$17,500 and as Gaultier (NZ) won the G1 Levin Classic. He was subsequently sold to Hong Kong.
Guy enjoyed further success trading the progeny of Rios and when Waikato Stud made the decision to move the stallion on she purchased him.
Rios (NZ) is now back with Danica Guy
“I had a few by Rios and I’ve sold five multiple winners by him in Hong Kong and then I ended up with Rios. I felt obligated to give him a home. He’s lovely and a pet really,” she said. “He serves a few mares, but it’s not about that, he’s just a good mate.”
Guy is currently working a team of 20, including the G3 Anniversary H. winner Germanicus (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Luckless in Tarzino
He was unplaced last time out in the G1 Tarzino Trophy after losing his chance when checked in the straight and will front up again in the G1 Windsor Park Plate on Saturday week.
“He’ll go back to Hastings in two weeks and then we’ll decide if he is ready for the 2000 metres of the G1 Livamol Classic or go to the G1 Captain Cook S.,” Guy said.
Germanicus (NZ)
Germanicus has won four races and rated on a par with the more talented horses Guy has had through her stable.
“He’s right up there, I felt Capella was probably the best horse I’ve had and we didn’t get to see the best of her because she sprained her fetlock and we struggled with her after that,” Guy said. “He can possibly be better than her. He’s still a work in progress and he’s a pretty exciting animal.”
Capella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) won three of her 14 starts, including the G2 Eight Carat Classic, and finished fourth in the G1 New Zealand Derby. During a brief Sydney campaign, she was fifth in the G1 Vinery Stud S. and seventh in the G1 ATC Oaks.
