Talented young horsewoman Maddie Raymond was always destined for the training ranks, having ridden ponies in her youth before acquiring a thoroughbred mare at the age of 13.
Raymond would catch the racing bug after acquiring her first taste for the industry when working under Warrnambool-based trainer Matthew Williams in her teenage years.
She then joined the Darren Weir stable before completing tenures under prominent trainers, such as David Hayes and Willie Mullins.
However, the opportunity to travel to Dubai in 2019 with the Kris Lees-trained Brave Smash (Jpn) would pave way for Raymond to meet her partner and right-hand man Paddy Bell, and Turaath’s current co-owner John Nicholls.
Brave Smash (Jpn)
After returning from Dubai, Raymond and Bell set up shop in Warrnambool, working alongside Lindsey Smith before launching Maddie Raymond Racing together in January 2020.
“Paddy (Bell) was also there (Dubai) with Viddora, and John Nicholls who used to train in Sydney runs the quarantine centre in Dubai. We all got along like a house on fire and after he (Nicholls) purchased her (Turaath) at the Tattersalls Sales over there (Newmarket) in December last year he called me to take her on, as he wanted her with a one-on-one trainer who had a smaller team,” Raymond told TDN AusNZ.
“She (Turaath) is a bit of a difficult, funny horse; she had a few bad habits and traits that he (Nicholls) was keen to get trained out of her through the use of the beach and as we have that down here at Warrnambool, he was keen to send her down our way.”
“She (Turaath) is a bit of a difficult funny horse; she had a few bad habits and traits that he (Nicholls) was keen to get trained out of her through the use of the beach and as we have that down here at Warrnambool." - Maddie Raymond
Purchased for $35,000 gns (AU$41,910) at the 2020 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, Turaath is out of stakes winner Fadhayyil (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). This is the family of G2 Chantilly Prix de Sandringham winner Miss Extra (Fr) (Masterstroke {USA}).
Turaath time
Raymond has notched 16 wins in her short career, including the St Arnaud Cup, the Terang Cup and a $135,000 2600-metre H. at Flemington, all three of which were with stable stalwart Wentwood (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}).
Saddling up Turaath, as the second favourite in the Let’s Elope S. remained a pipe dream for Raymond only six weeks ago.
Turaath
A moderately performed prospect on arrival in Australia, having won only one of her seven career starts, Turaath (GB) kickstarted her career Down Under in June this year with a distant, 4l, third placing in a BM64 H. at Sale before finishing second at Geelong a fortnight later.
She broke through at BM64 level over 1400 metres at Sandown on July 21 before bursting onto the scene the following start with a statement 3.8l victory in a mares BM84 H. at Caulfield.
Turaath's Let’s Elope S. credentials were realised last fortnight at Caulfield when she dug deep over the concluding stages to fend off fast-finishing stakes winner Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) in a 1400-metre BM90 H.
“We always thought that she would get black type, probably not this preparation but we have been confident that it would happen sometime down the track as she has nice ability,” Raymond said.
“When we got her, she (Turaath) was very green, very raw and didn’t know how to go about her work in a relaxed manner. She’s definitely still learning which is exciting.” - Maddie Raymond
Raymond remains wary of the task at hand despite Turaath being in a rich vein of form, saying that she didn’t expect this year’s edition of the Let’s Elope S. to come up so strong.
Turaath will take on G1 Robert Sangster S. winner Instant Celebrity (Not A Single Doubt), G1 Australian Guineas winner Mystic Journey (Needs Further), G2 Vanity S. winner Zou Dancer (Zoustar) and multiple other stakes performers.
“It has come up a strong race but at the same time this race has sort of been our plan since when we thought she may have been a black type mare before her first-up run,” Raymond said.
“She has continued to prove herself every time she has gone out this campaign and there is no reason why we should back down now." - Maddie Raymond
“She has continued to prove herself every time she has gone out this campaign and there is no reason why we should back down now, as she goes to the race in better order than last start, and the fact that she is such a tough mare will see her give it her all.”
Multiple Group 1-winning hoop Damian Lane will replace Jye McNeil in the saddle for Saturday’s contest and Raymond is delighted to secure his services.
“She (Turaath) will be improved getting back to Flemington and having drawn well gives Damian (Lane) the option to sit handy, he is an elite rider that has done a lot of work for us, so I think he will suit her perfectly,” Raymond said.
“We haven’t locked into any specific plans but ideally I think she will settle better with cover whereas last start she over-raced out in front with a horse niggling at her.”
The road ahead
The stable hasn’t mapped out a plan for Turaath beyond Saturday, according to Raymond.
She said they will be guided by their galloper's performance and how she comes through the run.
“A race like the (G1) Empire Rose (S.) is probably a bit unlikely as I think she needs to be settling a bit better in her races to get out over a mile,” Raymond said. “However, I’m not saying it’s entirely off the cards.
“At the moment 1400 metres is perfect for her (Turaath) as she’s showing a bit more speed than we expected, as we originally thought that she’d get out to a mile, potentially further," Raymond said.
“At the moment 1400 metres is perfect for her (Turaath) as she’s showing a bit more speed than we expected, as we originally thought that she’d get out to a mile, potentially further." - Maddie Raymond
“And while we plan to keep her to those shorter trips, we’re still learning about her and she’s still learning a lot about her racing style and racing manners.”
Raymond credits a large portion of her success as a trainer to her partner Bell, saying the combination of their skills and experience has been paramount to expanding the Maddie Raymond Racing brand.
She said they are hopeful of having up to 50 horses on the books in the not too distant future.
“It's super exciting to have such a nice horse (Turaath) so early on. Myself and my partner Paddy (Bell) have worked with nice horses in our time with the likes of Peter Moody and Darren Weir and it’s a similar sort of pressure,” Raymond said.
“I’ve certainly taken various bits and pieces from everyone I’ve worked for and so has Paddy." - Maddie Raymond
“I’ve certainly taken various bits and pieces from everyone I’ve worked for and so has Paddy, he worked with Black Caviar through his time with (Peter) Moody and I had a good association with Prince Of Penzance.
“He’s (Bell) more of a sprinting type and I’m more of a staying type. So, I think that’s why we can work so well together because we both bring different things to the table.”
