Gai Waterhouse an official VRC ambassador

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has just announced Australian Racing Hall of Fame legend and Emirates Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Gai Waterhouse as an official VRC ambassador. The Racing Horse was overjoyed to hear the news, we have followed her career since 1992 and been invited to meet her for breakfast during the Melbourne Cup Carnival before visiting her Tulloch Lodge Stables in Sydney early in November. This will culminate in the most special week of racing we have ever had!

Passionate supporter of Flemington and the VRC for decades

Now training in partnership with Adrian Bott the trainer said she was thrilled to be officially involved with Flemington and the VRC having been a passionate supporter of both for decades. She told us: "Flemington and the Melbourne Cup Carnival have been close to my heart for years, and I am pleased to be an official advocate for the VRC and the wonderful celebration of sport, fashion, food and entertainment that is the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The Melbourne Cup Carnival offers unsurpassed racing, excitement and heritage that can only be felt at Flemington, and is an event that people should try and experience at least once in their lifetime, if not every year!" Of course we echo those comments and will be experiencing our first visit to the Carnival.

Gai was a natural fit - Neil Wilson VRC Interim Chief Executive

VRC Interim Chief Executive Neil Wilson said Gai was a natural fit to represent the Club in the new role. He said: "Gai's passion and enthusiasm for our sport coupled with the extraordinary success she has tasted as a trainer makes her a wonderful ambassador for the VRC, She transcends racing, she is loved by all and is an inspiration to anyone wanting to achieve greatness in their chosen field."

First official appearance on Monday 30th October

Gai's first official appearance will be at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup Carnival Launch this Monday 30^th October. As part of her role she will appear at various media events, exclusive VRC Members' events leading into the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival and the 2018 Autumn Carnival, and will hit the road with the 'People's Cup' as part of the 2018 Melbourne Cup Tour.

Forged one of the most successful careers in Australian racing history

Gai has forged one of the most successful careers in Australian racing history, with 136 Group 1 wins to her name plus countless feature race victories, including an Emirates Melbourne Cup, a Caulfield Cup and a remarkable six Golden Slippers. The first lady of Australian racing celebrated her landmark Emirates Melbourne Cup win in 2013 with Fiorente, becoming the first Australian female trainer to do so, and only the second female trainer in history to take top honors in Australia's greatest race. 

Australian Living Treasure

Gai currently sits third on the all-time list of most winning Group 1 trainers, and shared a record with her father T J Smith of 156 metropolitan winners in a season, in 2002. She had her first win at Flemington with Nothin' Leica Dane in the 1995 VRC Derby. Following the 2013 Emirates Melbourne Cup which she won with Fiorente, Gai took the Cup around Australia and let anyone who asked have a photo with it and is an Australian Living Treasure as nominated by the National Trust of Australia. She is one special lady and on our return to the UK will post a piece about her and how she operates - we hope to have plenty of new information and a couple of juveniles to follow in 2018...

Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw

Please look out for our next blog when we will post news after the Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw on Saturday 4th November 2017. We will be in the Phar Lap Marquee at 6.30pm to witness one of the final elements in the lead up to the 2017 Melbourne Cup. We will hear from key players following the selection of barriers for this $6.25 million feature as they assess their chances.