A quickfire round with Spendthrift Australia's General Manager Garry Cuddy
TDN AusNZ: Favourite racing moment of 2020?
Garry Cuddy: Dirty Work’s Schillaci S.
TDN AusNZ: And favourite non-racing moment?
GC: The arrival of our gorgeous baby girl, Evie.
TDN AusNZ: What is the best thing about Magic Millions in January? Do you have a restaurant to recommend?
GC: Given I am now officially a Mexican (Victorian), it’s great to be somewhere where the sun is shining for more than a couple of hours at a time. Throw in the spectacle that the Magic Millions has become and the fun our families get to have where else would you want to be?
Hideaway Kitchen and Bar is our teams go to.
Garry Cuddy
TDN AusNZ: If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?
GC: John Hawkes, he is the benchmark as a human and horseman.
TDN AusNZ: Who is your favourite racehorse of the decade? Domestic and/or international.
GC: Domestic - Aliferous, own a share with my best mate and my wife picked her name.
International - hard to go past Authentic after the year he has had.
TDN AusNZ: Who is your favourite racehorse of the decade? Domestic and international.
GC: Authentic!
TDN AusNZ: What do you consider the greatest sporting moment this decade? (not solely racing related).
GC: Manchester United’s 2016 FA Cup win because my dad, brother and I flew to London for three days to be at the match.
TDN AusNZ: Who is the most under-rated stallion in Australasia?
GC: Tough one as I think the industry accurately identifies horses quite quickly these days, but I will give mention to Shamus Award as one who fights above his weight division.
TDN AusNZ: What is your New Year's resolution for 2021? Can you remember your 2020 resolution?
GC: I don’t do New Year resolutions, I take each day as it comes and make the most of it. Too much planning causes confusion.
TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry in 2021?
GC: I am keen to see the industry establish more opportunities and pathways for new people to get involved from a career perspective. There are some great initiatives like Thoroughbred Industry Careers underway, but we don't do enough from a national perspective to promote the industry and foster young keen people coming through.
Staff retention rates are poor, we need to stop blaming the work ethic of young people and instead look at how the industry can stimulate, engage and develop them to foster a career path they're passionate about.
