Friends again as Gai Waterhouse and John Singleton bury hatchet at Magic Millions sale to end bitter feud

THE feud that ended one of the most successful partnerships in Australian racing is over.

Magic Millions Yearling Sales

THE feud that ended one of the most successful partnerships in Australian racing is over — Gai Waterhouse and John Singleton have kissed and made up.

“I just feel an enormous sense of relief,” said Singleton at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast on Thursday. “I didn't realise just how much it had affected me.”

Waterhouse, who at the height of the feud labelled her lifelong friend Singleton “old”, “a drunk” and “an absolute sham”, was equally delighted.

“It was a lovers tiff. I was very sad when it happened and I am very pleased he apologised and we have moved on,” Waterhouse said.

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The lifelong friendship blew up spectacularly over the running of More Joyous in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick in April 2013.

When the star mare came second, Singleton exploded and sacked the Hall of Fame trainer and pulled his horses from her care.

That led to a bitter war with a stewards inquiry and Waterhouse’s bookmaker husband Robbie and son Tom being dragged into the fray.

And then a long icy silence settled like a frosty blanket over the racing industry.

Appropriately enough it was a horse that brought them back together. A bay colt by More Than Ready out of Fashions Afield from Singleton's Strawberry Hill Stud was picked up by Waterhouse at the Magic Millions sale on Thursday for $150,000.

“I knew the whole family, he was just such an exceptionally athletic type,” Waterhouse said of the yearling.

The old firm is back to together again as John Singleton and Gai Waterhouse end their bitter feud. Picture: Gaye Gerard

She had trained the broodmare, Fashions Afield, for Singleton and the Group 1-winning racehorse had proved one of their many success stories together.

Waterhouse said: “After I had bought him and John was walking past ...” “ ... She hit me with her umbrella,” Singleton laughed.

“That's always a sign. Then we had a little cuddle.”

Australia's greatest owner and trainer partnership was back on.

“When you have loved someone since a little girl and there is a big blow up, well, you have just got to move on,” a visibly emotional Singleton said.

The day the lifelong friendship blew up after More Joyous ran unplaced in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick in April 2013. Picture: Bronwen Healy

“I remember when her father Tommy Smith sent her over to me to talk her out of acting and I have known her since then. We have had so much success together.

“I am such a wuss. Every time I saw her I just wanted to give her a hug. Really it was just a domestic tiff that played out across 23 front pages.

“If people ask me I am not going to talk about it. As far as we are concerned it just didn't happen. And if it did — it was all my fault.”

Now the racing Waterhouse/Singleton racing juggernaut is back on the track.

“She has bought one of my horses and we are looking at doing something pretty exciting together — it will become apparent what it is soon,” Singleton said.

Both John Singleton and Gai Waterhouse admitted they were both very happy to put the fallout behind them. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Originally published as Friends again as Gai Waterhouse and John Singleton bury hatchet at Magic Millions sale to end bitter feud