’He is just so much more prepared with more time’. Gordon Richards Is Extremely Confident Of His Everest Contender, Gytrash.

Q: What would it mean for you as a trainer, to watch your horse perform on the biggest stage in the world for the second time?

A: It was great the last time, and it's great to be able to do it again. And even more so this year, when we are aware of, you know, what we're up against, and what we're going to get out of it.

Q: What are your learnings from the last Everest, that you will be improving upon?

A: Last year we had to work out how to travel Gytrash halfway across Australia. In the end, we sent him by a float which took three weeks because we weren't allowed to go through Victoria. As there were no horse transports were going my wife and I floated across in a trailer float with Gytrash with just three days to go for the race.

This year, he's already up in Sydney. So, he doesn't have to do any of that transportation before the race. He's there. He's acclimatised. It is so much better for him. Also last year, he had only travelled anti-clockwise on a racecourse but now he has had all that experience going clockwise. Essentially, he is just so much more prepared with more time.

Q: Are you at all concerned about the weather or the ground?

A: He wins on a hard track or soft track. He won the Yes Yes Yes Stakes (2020) a couple of weeks after the Everest at Rosehill on a hard track.

Q: How do you think Gytrash is progressing thus far and how do you think he is doing this season?

A: He is doing quite well right now.

Q: What would the next few months, leading up to The Everest look like for Gytrash?

 A: We have a program set up for him. He will trial on the 17th of August. And then do another trial on the 30th at Warwick Farm. Subsequently, if needed, he will try again in the first week of September.

He is being pointed at The Shorts on the 18th. of September. And then from there, he will go straight to The Everest.

Q: And when will you be going down to Sydney?

A: We have all these COVID restrictions in place in Australia. So, I want to wait as long as I can before I have to go up to Sydney. Because, when I come back to South Australia, I will have to quarantine myself. Most likely I will go out in the middle of August, probably stay with him until The Everest is over.

Q: Stay Inside had a very good trial recently, do you have any concerns to be possibly facing a Golden Slipper winner this year?

A: There are 12 runners in the race and I have to be concerned about each one of Gytrash’s contenders in The Everest. Last year there were some 3YOs in the race as well. And they all fell by the wayside when it comes to The Everest. It is a big effort for 3YOs that have probably only had two or three starts as a 2YO before they are old enough to compete in a race like The Everest. 3YOs need to come back to race against the older and more seasoned horses. But we will take it as it comes.

Q: Please tell us the story of how you tied up with Inglis for the second time. How do you do this repeat feat?

A: We thought we went so well together, last year. Gytrash ran a really good race. At the time it was a bit of a verbal thing with Inglis that we would probably partner again if everything was going okay. They were true to their word. At the time there was no signing or anything, just the handshake but Inglis held true to their word. And most of the time, I've been pretty confident that they were going to pick us up when the time came.

Q: You welcomed Damien Moyle into the business as a partner recently. What does that mean for your horses and your stable? Will you be taking on more horses or adding a stable?

A: Yes, Damien has been my foreman for a while now but we have become partners from the first of August. We have taken on more horses. Now I've got a stable of 30. We don't want any more than that. We work well together. It's a very good partnership.

Q: Please tell us about any interesting horses currently in your stables?

A: We bought Magic Max at the sales in Adelaide last year, and he's just turned three now. He is by Magnus out of the dam Vain Sonata. Magic Max has won his first career race at Caulfield. Magic Max was ridden by Damian Lane and won the A$125,000 Super Vobis 2YO Handicap, defeating All About Eve.

Knightstown was sent to me by someone else is a really good horse. He is by Valentia out of the Zaraya Rose. He has won one of his three starts and we are aiming towards the Caulfield Guineas.

We also have a 3YO Deep Field colt called Lakehurst. He just had his first race in July and was unplaced However, he will be a very good horse. We're very happy with them.

Q: Is there a stallion that you think or thought was the best type?

A: I like Toronado as a stallion. I thought at the time he will be pretty good. He was a consistent stallion but he doesn’t come to Australia anymore. I think Toronado will have a lot of good ones right across the board across varying distances. He is a Swettenham Stud stallion.

Q: Which is your favourite racecourse of all time? And why?

A: Flemington is my favourite because I have won a lot of races there, although Randwick is good too. I like big tracks that give every horse a chance. You get the feeling of success there.

Q: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry?

A: Well, Jamie Kah is probably already there but she will get better and go places. She doesn't exactly ride for one stable if she does sign up to work with one stable where she had all the rides I think she would end up being better than she is now.

Q: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?

A: I would really like to get over COVID restrictions soon.

Q: What book are you currently reading? 

A: My wife and I like to listen to e-books like on audible. We really enjoy murder mysteries. I like a bit of murder and mayhem.