Conflict fears cloud Gai Waterhouse, John Singleton issue

IN the racing caper, information is paramount. Inside information is priceless. And that is the perceived problem in the famous Waterhouse family.  

IN the racing caper, information is paramount. Inside information is priceless.

And that is the perceived problem in the famous Waterhouse family - Gai is one of Australia's most successful and effervescent trainers, while her husband and son are bookmaking giants.

The issue, real or imaginary, is that a trainer can hand over vital information to a bookmaker, who, in turn, can cash in on it.

For example, a trainer knows that the galloper being set for a race has suffered a setback.

Treatment is required that means the horse misses vital work.

That information is made available to a bookmaker, who then "lays" the galloper for as much money as he can take. That means he tries to entice punters to bet on the galloper, knowing it has little chance of success.

The more bets he takes, the more he wins.

Somehow, not all seems clear-cut in the More Joyous case.

Bookmaking son Tom says he did not speak with his mother during the week leading into the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

He denies knowing about the heat in the champion mare's neck and the antibiotics given to her.

He also denies telling anybody that the horse couldn't win. Had he known, the common course of action would be to take as many bets as possible on the mare. Instead, he backed her with his own money, believing she was "over the odds" - good value.

He says he lost $85,000 on the race - taking the most bets on the winner, All Too Hard, and losing on More Joyous as well. Had More Joyous won and All Too Hard lost, the outcome to him would have been a $300,000 benefit.

The irony is that owner John Singleton may have inadvertently tipped off the public that his mare couldn't win. He spoke openly on television before the race, relaying a rumour that Tom Waterhouse had told some of his friends that not all was well with More Joyous and that she couldn't win.

Gai Waterhouse

Anyone listening could have taken the tip - betting on another runner or betting against her on Betfair.

You don't get any better tip than that delivered by the outspoken Singo as the horses head to the barriers.

Owner John Singleton and trainer Gai Waterhouse leave the stewards inquiry at Randwick after More Joyous' was unplaced in the All Aged Stakes Picture: Jermey Piper