‘That was tough ... we thought we had won’: Terry Henderson still chasing second Melbourne Cup

OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson still has difficulty reflecting on Bauer’s narrow runner-up finish in the 2008 Melbourne Cup ... and with two live chances this year, his pain could be eased as soon as Tuesday.

Terry Henderson’s first faint memory of the Melbourne Cup came in the most unlikely of places – as a five-year-old listening on the radio in his uncle’s car in Yarra Glen.

He was five.

It was the 1954 edition as Rising Fast became the only horse to win the Caulfield Cup/Cox Plate/Melbourne Cup trilogy in the same year.

It’s not that the Cup became an instant obsession for Henderson.

That came much later.

But it did provide OTI’s founder/CEO with an early insight into how the Cup transcends the sport, as well as its connection to the community.

• 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!

“It’s just one of those things that sticks in your mind,” Henderson said of the 1954 race.

“The Cup has so much more going for it than a horse race.

“I compare the Melbourne Cup Carnival to a carnival in Rio or Venice. It’s a celebration in the community. It’s a greater challenge now than it was when I was a kid, but I think the VRC does a pretty good job of maintaining the community links, with the Melbourne Cup tour.”

Henderson’s early passion centred on trotters, but when he bought into a few thoroughbreds with champion trainer Colin Hayes, that all changed.

By 1995, he had his first Melbourne Cup runner, with Doriemus.

Better still, the ex- Kiwi galloper won the Cup with Damien Oliver in the saddle and Lee Freedman the trainer.

From that moment, he was hooked.

OTI's Terry Henderson will have two runners - Athabascan (top right) and Sea King - in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.

• EXPERT TIPS: Mark Guest’s race-by-race tips, analysis for 2024 Melbourne Cup Day

While his selection process and business model in sourcing potential Cup runners for OTI – set up in 1999 – has changed significantly and extends around the world, his determination to win that elusive second Cup pulses as strong as ever.

He’s come so desperately close.

Doriemus went to the line almost with Might And Power in 1997, but the photo finish went against Henderson.

Then the gutsy, pint-sized grey Bauer lost by the smallest margin in 2008 to Viewed, leaving the OTI crew shattered.

Viewed (top) holds off OTI’s Bauer to win the 2008 Melbourne Cup.

• 2024 Melbourne Cup tips: Top 4 picks from 24 experts

“That was tough because we thought we had won,” Henderson recalled.

“But the old trotting great trainer Roy Purdon years ago said: ‘If you want to enjoy this industry, you have got to learn to turn the page.

“And I’ve turned the page. If you wallow in what might have happened, you’re not going to enjoy it.

• Clinton Payne’s Melbourne Cup tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

OTI has been sourcing international horses ever since Hugs Dancer in 2004.

Sharing the success with a range of different owners (small and big) is part of the OTI experience with Henderson saying Australia has a syndicate model the rest of the world would be envious about.

“To see people enjoy the thrill of racing horses is something that still drives me,” he said.

“It gives the opportunity for anyone with a modest amount of money to be involved in ownership. You can do it in England but to a far lesser extent, but you can’t do it in France or America, and you certainly can’t do it in Hong Kong or Japan.”

He sticks to a meticulous selection/buying process which requires four annual trips to Europe, working with agents on a host of possibilities.

When Henderson first started the hunt, he wait for videos to be shipped to Australia. Now the vision is almost instantly obtainable, and he doesn’t need to clock them like in the past, though he still does New Zealand trials to take sectionals.

“The challenge of trying to identify characteristics of a horse who you might be able to come out and improve is something that I still love,” he said.

• Francesca Cumani’s 2024 Melbourne Cup tips

Bendigo Cup winner Sea King, OTI’s Cup runner, is a case in point.

“He wasn’t an expensive horse, we only bought him two months ago,” he said.

“He was bought as a replacement horse for Matty Dunn up in Queensland, but I also needed a horse who could be a galloping partner for (Cox Plate runner) Docklands.

“He had finished sixth in the Ebor … he has a bit of a turn of foot.

“We haggled for a bit but (were able to get) his purchase price back and more (at Bendigo).”

UK visitor Sea King destroys his rivals in the Bendigo Cup 👑

Congratulations to @H_Eustace & @decbates 🤝 pic.twitter.com/d5ycejS9FO

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 30, 2024

• Michelle Payne’s 2024 Melbourne Cup tips

OTI’s other Cup runner, Athabascan, was was withdrawn from the race late on Cup Eve after the horse was found to have cardiac arrhythmia in an inspection from stewards.

The horse, who had run second in the Sydney Cup, was immediately withdrawn, meaning the Cup field is back to 23.

The first feature on #TABEverest day goes to Athabascan who wins the G3 St Leger Stakes in a thriller for @JohnOSheaRacing and @TommyBerry21 🙌@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/pbsmvFAJVt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024

• Robbie Waterhouse tips bolter to win 2024 Melbourne Cup

Henderson is excited about next year’s chances too.

Queensland Derby winner Warmonger – “a serious horse” – will be back bigger and better than ever next year.

He added: “We’ve got five horses coming out in the next month that have raced in Europe this year, and hopefully those horses will come through next year.”

Originally published as ‘That was tough ... we thought we had won’: Terry Henderson still chasing second Melbourne Cup