Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
There are not too many Australian Group 1s missing from the colourful trainer’s CV, but the G1 Stradbroke H. was one elite-level race that before Saturday had so far eluded the trainer and Waterhouse - who now trains in partnership with Adrian Bott - told TDN AusNZ she was over the moon to finally tick the time-honoured Queensland Group 1 off her bucket list.
“It is so thrilling and it was made all the more special because the race had so far eluded me,” Waterhouse said. “I hadn’t had many starters in it, I don’t quite know why, but it was very exciting to finally win it.”
Waterhouse is currently in London ahead of Royal Ascot week, but despite being over 10,000 miles from Eagle Farm the iconic trainer was no less excited about reaching this latest landmark and she was also quick to heap praise on Bott, who she joined forces with in 2016.
“I am thrilled for Adrian because when the horse came into the stable I told him: ‘He is your baby, you train him to win the Stradbroke.’,” she explained. “It was so lovely to see the horse being able to turn it around and he really has been Adrian’s project.”
Neil Paine (red hat) accepts the trophy in Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's absence | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Beginning his career with David Vandyke, for whom he won nine races, including the 2020 G1 Australian Guineas, Alligator Blood joined the Waterhouse and Bott stable at the beginning of the year after a short, fruitless spell with trainer Bill Healy.
The son of All Too Hard showed he was back to something like his best when he finished an eye-catching second in G3 BRC Sprint last month and Waterhouse said the gelding has taken a bit of time to come into himself.
“When he got him he was quite a fruit out of season. He certainly wasn’t flying and was a bit out of form. These are the types of horses I have always sort of specialised in and when you have one like him you have to follow the same principles; concentrate on them and change their training around to make them happy,” she continued.
If Alligator Blood wanted to show his new trainers he was happy, there was no better demonstration than his performance on Saturday, when he flew home to beat Private Eye (Al Maher) by a 1l.
Alligator Blood | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
As with most of the stable’s horses these days, Alligator Blood was expertly ridden by Tim Clark and Waterhouse said a lot of their recent success was down to the rider.
“He did a wonderful job,” she said. “No one rides our horses better than Tim. He has wonderful timing, which is essential for any great jockey, and horses just travel for him because he has beautifully kind hands - he is just very talented.”
It was a day steeped in emotion, with Alligator Blood’s owner Allan Endresz unable to be at Eagle Farm to welcome the gelding into the winner’s enclosure, instead watching the race at home with his wife Joy, who is battling terminal bowel cancer.
“It was great to see the horse back to his best and start his new career with his new stable and lovely for Allan because his wife is extremely ill. He was with her today (Saturday), telling her that they had won the race and I’m sure it was very emotional for everyone, but I am so pleased for them,” said Waterhouse.
“It was great to see the horse (Alligator Blood) back to his best and start his new career with his new stable and lovely for Allan (Endresz) because his wife is extremely ill. He was with her today (Saturday), telling her that they had won the race and I’m sure it was very emotional for everyone, but I am so pleased for them.” - Gai Waterhouse
When one reaches new milestones, it is often the best time to reflect on past triumphs and while all Group 1s are incredibly special, Waterhouse singled out her former superstar Pierro as the ‘best horse’ she has ever trained.
The son of Lonhro won 11 of his 14 races for the trainer and his five Group 1 wins included a victory in the G1 Golden Slipper - one of Waterhouse's record-holding seven wins in the coveted juvenile Group 1.
“Pierro was the greatest horse I have ever trained, and I have been lucky enough to train many, many great horses, but he just had the heart of a lion and was just so talented," she remembered.
“Pierro was the greatest horse I have ever trained, and I have been lucky enough to train many, many great horses..." - Gai Waterhouse
Alligator Blood was the 16th major Waterhouse and Bott have trained in partnership and she said Saturday’s victory will live long in the memory, made more special because she achieved it alongside Bott.
“This win today is up there as well because there is nothing like a first and there are not many more prestigious seven furlong races in Australia,” said Waterhouse. “It is a time-honoured race in Queensland, to be able to achieve it with Adrian just gives me huge joy - it is very special.
"I cannot describe the satisfaction and joy I get when I win races with Adrian - he is such a breath of fresh air in the stable. He looks at things so analytically and he is so meticulous in everything he does, he is a huge credit to racing in my opinion.”
