Gai Waterhouse lures John Singleton back to Flemington carnival to support his filly Killcare Beachgirl in Group 2 Wakeful Stakes
Gai Waterhouse is excited to have John Singleton back at the Flemington carnival to watch a filly he bred chase black type success on Derby Day.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Gai Waterhouse has managed to entice one-time leviathan owner and breeder John Singleton back to the Flemington carnival this year in the hope his talented filly Killcare Beachgirl can win Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m).
Singleton, 82, staged a dispersal sale of his breeding and racing stock, pocketing a cool $15.5m, last August, while also selling his famous Strawberry Hill Stud on the NSW Central Coast to Coolmore for an undisclosed sum.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
But Waterhouse stressed that Singleton’s passion for racing hadn’t diminished, saying he planned to be at Flemington for the first time “in a long, long while” to watch the filly that he bred chase black type success on Saturday.
“(Killcare Beachgirl) worked well … with Blake Shinn (aboard) … ‘Singo’ is coming down (from Sydney) to see her,” Waterhouse said at Flemington trackwork on Tuesday morning.
“They are the colours he and Gerry (Harvey) share. They are the only owners in the world who share race colours. It’s funny, isn’t it!”
• ‘I’ll remember him forever’: Kah pays tribute to Colin McKenna
Asked how long it had been since Singleton had attended the Flemington Cup Carnival, Waterhouse said: “I would say it has been a long, long time … it’s great to see him back.”
“It’s great to see someone of Singo’s age (still involved in racing). He isn’t a young man and yet he is still getting a kick out of the sport.”
Singleton bred and now races Killcare Beachgirl, who won her first start in Wyong in March before a recent Group 2 placing in the Edward Manifold Stakes as well a sixth in the Group 2 Ethereal Stakes.
She is a daughter of highly-rated young stallion Too Darn Hot out of Strawberry Hill mare Absolute Joy.
Singleton and Waterhouse famously had a public spat over star mare More Joyous more than a decade ago, but patched it up a few years later.
Despite selling most of his racing and breeding stock, Singleton commissioned Waterhouse to buy him a yearling at this year’s Magic Millions Sales.
They went to $800,000 for a Wootton Bassett filly from the Group 2-winning mare Champagne Cuddles.
• Melbourne Cup second favourite ruled out by vets
“Singo wanted to put his finger in the water and he said you’ve got one horse to buy,” Waterhouse said in January.
“He gave me the brief and that was it. The only horse for Singo.
“He said, ‘I only want one horse and if you like it, buy it’.”
Waterhouse was extremely pleased with the work of another filly, Too Darn Lizzie, who will head to the Group 3 Vanity (1400m) on Saturday, after winning the Thousand Guineas Prelude.
“She is going super and her win at Caulfield in the Guineas Prelude was great … I think she will be winning again this week,” she said.
Waterhouse’s sole Melbourne Cup runner Just Fine pleased the trainer with his work on Tuesday, following a disappointing performance in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Her Champions Stakes hopeful Eliyass also impressed on the track.
Originally published as Gai Waterhouse lures John Singleton back to Flemington carnival to support his filly Killcare Beachgirl in Group 2 Wakeful Stakes
Horsham tips Tuesday: $4.80 best bet
Local trainer Paul Preusker should be among the winners, including a $4.80 chance from his stable that will be hard to beat, at Tuesday’s Horsham meeting.
Group 1 winner moves to Victoria to reboot career
Anthony and Sam Freedman have taken over the training of Group 1 winner Communist and a pleasing trial have provided them with optimism he could regain winning form.