Waterhouse to be frugal at Magic Millions sales after split with bloodstock agent

GAI Waterhouse will not be out of the Magic Millions gates at the same pace this year with her spending plans hobbled by a split with James Harron.

Gai Waterhouse looks over a yearling at the Magic Millions complex at Bundall. Picture: David Clark

AUSTRALIAN racing queen Gai Waterhouse will not be jumping out of the Magic Millions sale gates at the same pace this year, after her spending plans were hobbled by a split with James Harron.

Waterhouse topped the sale last year after purchasing almost 60 horses for about $11.5 million with bloodstock agent Harron.

But Waterhouse will be taking a steadier approach this year now that she and Harron, who is regarded as one of the young guns of the industry, have gone their own ways.

Waterhouse was complimentary about the crop of yearlings during inspections at the Bundall complex this week, while admitting she would be taking fewer horses home.

“I won’t be buying as many as last year,” she told the Bulletin. “But I’ll still be active in the market.

Gai Waterhouse looks over a yearling at the Magic Millions complex at Bundall. Picture: David Clark

“I think the yearlings are very good this year ... they are very athletic.”

Waterhouse appears to bear Harron no ill will.

“I am always very respectful of James’s opinion ... he has a great eye,” she said. “We have had great success together.”

Waterhouse said she was “going to slightly alter” her operations in the wake of the partnership change, but made it clear she had no intention of winding down permanently.

Harron, who was inspecting the yearlings independently of Waterhouse, declined to go into details about the number of lots he wanted to purchase this year.

“I wouldn’t answer that question,” he said, laughing.

“We are still getting through the lists.

“When we have shortened it down, we will confer with our clients and see how interested they are.”

Proving there is still plenty of spring in her step, Waterhouse expects to have completed 1200 inspections by the time the auction starts today.

Meanwhile the much younger Harron estimated he would have looked at half that number.

The main part of the sale will conclude after Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday evening.