How a local rock musician became a Waterhouse stable foreman

IN A SPORT where bloodlines can be the determining factor in success, it is easy to see why Anthony McLeod is so highly sought.

Anthony McLeod, formerly of Grafton - now working as a stable foreman with Gai Waterhouse. Photo Adam Hourigan / The Daily Examiner. Picture: Adam Hourigan

IN A SPORT where bloodlines can be the determining factor in success, it is easy to see why Anthony McLeod is so highly sought.

The son of local champion horse trainer Phil McLeod, Anthony was pretty much born into the racing industry.

It was not until he was 14 that Anthony took up work with his dad, starting out with basic stable work and "moderate horse handling".

He has stuck with it ever since and is proving to be a natural in the field.

"Every time I didn't know something, I'd always be asking questions," Anthony said.

"It's what's different to most other work - you always learn something new. You can study and learn as much as you can but it's a job that requires initiative and common sense and you can't learn those things."

McLeod worked with Phil until the latter retired in July, 2012, mixing his Monday to Friday stablehand work with his ever growing passion for music.

He was one-quarter of hugely popular local band Auribus, alongside Robbie Kae, Shekinah Hope and Antony Ratzer, who reached the Australian final of international band competition Emergenza the same year.

Hope left the band at the start of last year, and the remaining three members decided to use the change in circumstance as the inspiration for a fresh start.

"About that time I moved to Sydney to help my music career," said McLeod, who counts Maroon 5, John Mayer and Stevie Wonder among his major influences.

"We changed the name of the band to King For A Day at the beginning of last year after one of our members left to pursue other endeavours."

You might think McLeod has settled into a nine-to-five job and using as much of the rest of the week to play music, but that is where you would be mistaken.

Not only did he line up a full time job as soon as he arrived in the Big Smoke; McLeod returned to the sport he grew up with.

"Well after moving to Sydney I knew I had to get some work," McLeod said.

"Getting back to racing had never really crossed my mind at all until I was job hunting one day. I decided to have a look and Gai Waterhouse was hiring.

"I walked into the office, told them who I was and a bit of my background. They said I was starting Monday."

It sounds like one of the easiest job interviews in recorded history, but there is a reason why he was picked up immediately.

"Dad started out with a trainer named Peter Myers, who happened to work with T.J. Smith - Gai's father," McLeod said.

"It's a funny circle of how things have worked out.

"When I earned that job, I also picked up full-time work at the Commonwealth Bank so I was working both jobs.

"I was doing the same thing in Grafton but Gai starts work at 3am and juggling both was too much.

"I sat down, weighed up which one I enjoyed more and followed that. I only lasted 12 weeks with the Commonwealth Bank."

McLeod started working for Waterhouse in a casual capacity, until a day that started as just any other saw his fortunes change.

"I had a spot in the middle of the track and was handling a horse that got a bit feisty," McLeod said.

"I managed to get him under control pretty quickly which was fine, but then she called for me to come straight up to the tower.

"Having Gai call me up to the tower herself, I honestly thought I was in trouble.

"When I got there she asked why I wasn't full time and I told her my reasons, then she offered me a role as a foreman."

A few weeks of negotiations followed until he started in his new role in October.

"I think she's one of the most positive women I've ever met," McLeod said. "She tells you as it is, talks through whatever issue there is and offers a solution. It's been great."

King For A Day performed at Coffs Harbour yesterday, and will be one of many independent bands lining up for UBERfest on February 22 before focusing their efforts on the Australian Battle of the Bands.

"The winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to London and a spot in the global final," McLeod said.

Originally published as How a local rock musician became a Waterhouse stable foreman