CONTENTS YOUR GUIDE TO ISSUE NO.03
05 Chris Waller: Scaling The Everest Summit With Nature Strip Chris Waller is one of the world’s most iconic Thoroughbred trainers and Australia’s National Treasure speaks to Everest Diaries about his plans Nature Strip, his own Everest slot, the name of his favourite horse, his aspirations for the stable and much more
10 Gerry Harvey: An Air Of Satisfaction In Breeding Champions Gerry Harvey sold Alligator Blood for A$55,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (2018) that he runs with his wife Katie Page. Sounds simple? Yet therein lies the tale. A tale he tells exclusively to Everest Diaries.
13 Loving Gaby All The Way From Melbourne To Sydney For The Everest Ciaron Maher who trains in partnership with co-trainer David Eustace, has confirmed that his stable star Loving Gaby was firmly pointed at The Everest in her 2020 Spring Carnival campaign. The fact that she's currently in Victoria has thrown a small spanner in the works. o3 | EVEREST DIARIES
17 Alligator Blood Pointing To The Eagle Via The Everest Alligator Blood is fortitude personified for his owners. He is a beacon of hope for his fans. And his journey to immortality has only just begun. Everest Diaries chats to trainer David Vandyke about his plans for his stable champion
21 Statistics: Top Owner, Trainer & Jockey
EDITORS NOTE On The Art Of Racing Champions
Being selected as a runner in The Everest provides a rarefied 'Satisfaction From Achievement' for all racing connections alike. Four years ago Everest Diaries began with the vision to celebrate and immortalise, that which is momentary. Gerry Harvey describes it best when he says that if "I can't breed, sell, own or race (Thoroughbred) Champions then I don't want to be in this industry". To him, his greatest satisfaction lies in his ability to provide the world with top quality products or to cherish them for himself. This week we speak to one of the greatest champions of the Everest concept and a man who is considered to be one of Australia's National Treasures - Chris Waller about Nature Strip and his Everest plans, the slot he owns, lessons learned during COVID-times and much more.
We also speak to Australian billionaire and Magic Millions' co-owner and the man who bred potential Everest contender - Alligator Blood about the interesting sale of the horse that no-one wanted who has become both a racing and a social media phenomenon. The son of All Too Hard who signifies hope and tenacity through his name and his owners life-journey is currently Harvey's favourite horse. In our chat with David Vandyke, we find out about the trainer's Spring plans for his champion sprinter Alligator Blood and Ciaron Maher's own journey and plans for Phoenix Thoroughbred's owned-Loving Gaby. All in all, this is an issue to be savoured over coffee and mulled over a glass of wine after a long day of breeding. Stay safe & enjoy racing.
e d a v e h PSShevade, Pallavi
Publisher, Everest Diaries
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CHRIS WALLER: SCALING THE EVEREST SUMMIT WITH NATURE STRIP 05Â | EVEREST DIARIES
Chris Waller is not just an iconic Australian trainer, he is iconic on a world stage as well. This Australian national treasure has been a staunch supporter of 'The Everest' race concept from the beginning and was one of the first to purchase a slot himself. His 2019 stable star Yes, Yes, Yes has already claimed the coveted Everest trophy in 2019 and this year his other student is a firm favourite to win. While Waller is still mulling over the contender for his own slot, Tabcorp have chosen Nature Strip, (who was recently rated as the fastest sprinter in the world), as their Everest contender. In a rare interview with Chris Waller, we find out more about his plans for the Everest, the name of his favourite horse and his aspirations for the stable.
Q: How is Nature Strip doing and what are your plans for him leading upto and after The Everest?
A: Now that he's a mature and a Group One winning horse, we are targeting him in the biggest races in the Spring and the Autumn,I'm lucky to have some of the best track riders in the business and one of these rides Nature Strip most days. The things that make me smile about the horse is his speed. There are other horses with similar speed but they can't sustain it as he can. And even if he overdoes it he can bring himself unstuck. But basically, if you've got a horse in the race that wants to win the race and the jockeys are riding that horse within their comfort zone they would find it very hard for the horse to go with them. They have to respect his speed, and they have to respect their own capabilities because whether they beat him or not, they've still got to try and run second or third. Otherwise, if they do things upside down they will run last. So I think watching him race, seeing that speed and then sustaining it and then hanging on at the finish is a very rewarding result. It makes me smile.
So obviously getting him to the big races around the world is something you love to do, but we're all in covid-19 mode and barely getting barely brave enough to get a week ahead of ourselves everyone. We will review again in 6 – 24 months when international travel may look like opening up. The beauty of Australian racing is prize money and the that we and the fact that we race 52 weeks of the year we're in a pretty enviable position.
Q: With Yes Yes Yes retired, who are your current stable stars that you are looking at him over the next 12 – 24 months? pointing towards your own slot for The A: We would love to take him overseas. I see a Everest? sprinter especially from Australia has the vitals to A: Like we did with Yes Yes Yes, we will remain cautious about buying a horse or selling or horsetravel because you can take them to their races trading for some time. I think the beauty of fresh.Australia is very good at it stands on the top having your own slot that you can see exactly of the world with sprinters as well as other distances. But pound for pound and I think horses how your own horses are going and what it may per capita I think we do a very good job with their suit. sprinters. Q: Do you foresee any international races for
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Q) What kind of a horse is he? What are his special quirks? What are the things about him that make you smile? And what are the physical attributes that make him the forerunner of this sport? A) Well, he's an absolute gentleman to work with. He's a big strong boy. Doesn't require any fuss. He has no real quirks. He's just happy doing his thing.
There are other horses with similar speed but they can't sustain it as he can. And even if he overdoes it he can bring himself unstuck.
People think he's a horse that wants to jump and run like a leopard, but he's actually quite laidback and made easier thanks to very good horsemen that work with the horse. I'm lucky to have some of the best track riders in the business and one of these rides Nature Strip most days.
They have to respect his speed, and they have to respect their own capabilities because whether they beat him or not, they've still got to try and run second or third. Otherwise, if they do things upside down they will run last.
But basically, if you've got a horse in the race that wants to win the race and the jockeys are riding that horse within their comfort zone they would find it very hard for the horse to go with them.
So I think watching him race, seeing that speed and then sustaining it and then hanging on at The things that make me smile about the horse is the finish is a very rewarding result. It makes me his speed. smile.
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Q: In a recent story on Racing.com, you talked about how COVID19 was a positive influence on your and your stables’ work life. Will the work from home and digitization concept become more of a permanent feature for your stable?
A: I think it's changed all of our lives and put some reality back into it. It has made us understand that we're not robots. We do have to look after our time. Travelling just for the sake of getting to see something in person is not the be-all-and-end-all. In this day and age we need to continue to move with the times. I find the FaceTime and video calls very helpful. Also not having to travel in planes or in cars is a big bonus because it takes time and of course costs money, Q: Do you visit the sales? If yes, what do you look at when you plan to buy yearlings? Which bloodstock agent do you work with and again how do you plan your purchases? A: Yes, I do. When I'm planning to buy yearlings, I'm simply trying to invest people's money to the best of my ability and in doing that we do a lot of homework.
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We predominantly with Guy Mulcaster as we've got a good working relationship with him. He knows what I like and I certainly respect the horse he buys. Other bloodstock agents also consult with me. Infact every bloodstock agent that get a Group One winner deserves respect. I understand that and appreciate working with all of them. And so many bloodstock agents over the years have been very good to me and entrusting their horses for their clients with me. And basically, if you buy a yearling you're expected to get a return on their (the owner’s) investment. Q: How early did you get involved with owners? And how do you set their objectives/ aspirations? A: Basically from the day the yearling is purchased, we will give them a plan and then as the horse is educated and starts to come through the stable we keep regular contact with the owner(s) ensuring they understand what we're trying to achieve. We try and follow the plan as best as we can and I am realistic about objective and aspirations. And It seems to work well for the people we train for.
Q) What did winning The Everest mean to you last year? A) It was a great feeling because everybody's been talking about the Everest.
I would go on record as saying that think that last year's Everest was the best field it's assembled or at least attracted all the best sprinters from around Australia of that year.
Before that it was Melbourne Cups and Cox Plates. In fact, I think that the Cox Plate has gathered a lot of momentum in recent years because people aren't becoming as familiar with the Melbourne cup runners any more as so many overseas horses coming to the Melbourne Cup. It has now become a little bit harder for local horses to qualify for the Melbourne Cup.
So to be able to win it not only do you need a good horse, but need a good team to make it happen and I'm proud of the team around me that do make these race wins happen.
Therefore it's becoming a little bit foreign to the everyday person but what The Everest has done is it has brought about a talking point by. A lot of people they're seeing the horses like or the leading 2YO from the year before or the up-andcoming horses all coming together in the one race. Obviously, The Melbourne Cup is here and is part of Australia's history. But so are Australian sprinters. And I think Redzel was a great advertisement for the race being a good sprinter and winning it two years in a row from its Inception setting the benchmark.
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Q: From a more practical perspective when you choose a horse for your The Everest slot what are you looking for? A: First of all, I want to find a sound horse that you know is going to be there from the time you commit to the slot.
And secondly, you've got to make sure that you've got a horse that can cope with all barrier draws. You've got a horse that can cope with all conditions because there's no use having the best horse if he's or she's not going to be competitive on a wet track or a good track. So you got to try and think of all the options and don't think you would secure a horse just to win the slot. I think you could secure a horse to run the top three, which is a big windfall for all concerned.
I also think a mature horse makes the job a bit easier. It's hard to work out whether the 2YO from last year will be any good this year. Q) Who are your current stable stars? And who is your favourite horse of all time? A) I am lucky enough to have a very big team of horses. They're all good to me. There are multiple Group One winners in the stable. They will always hold a special moment in my heart. I've been lucky enough to train a lot of them and they're the ones that you remember as well as the ones through the early days of true importance in building your career.
So I don't think it would be fair for me to mention a few of them, but we've got a very nice team being assembled for the spring an authority looking forward to the time. My favourite horse……I don't even need to answer that question. It's not hard to work out. Q: You have had the great Winx, and a The Everest cup winner in your stable this decade. What is your aspiration for the next decade?
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A: Typically training winners. I've been lucky enough to be dealing with some really good horses for a long time. They are all exceptional athletes. I get emotional talking about how much it means to me. I'm not an emotional person but horses do mean a lot to me. He might not be the best horse. It might just be a horse coming home safe and talking about the horse that's been in the stable for a long time and fighting makes me emotional.
I hope to continue to do the job to the best my ability and continue to have a good team around me. That's my aspiration for the next decade. Over my career as a trainer and in particular during COVID-19, I have seen what racing actually means to the community. We have got to continue to make sure it's socially acceptable. That's another duty that I have that I respect and racing's been good to me. It's got a great name, and it's my job to keep the name. To be talked about in the right way for the next decade and well beyond that.
GERRY HARVEY: AN AIR OF SATISFACTION IN BREEDING CHAMPIONS
Gerry Harvey sold Alligator Blood for A$55,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (2018) that he runs with his wife Katie Page. Sounds simple? Yet therein lies the tale. The All Too Hard colt was passed in. According to Harvey, "No one showed any interest. And then some people came to buy to look at the horse. I tried to talk them into buying the horse. They went away but then later they came back and bought him for A$55,000.” Thus began the journey of the horse named Alligator Blood, which literally refers to one's tenacity to thrive against all odds.
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“I got a very big shock when I discovered how well he is doing, “As a yearling, he didn’t have the 'look.' He didn’t fit into the mould (of usual Group winning horses). When he almost didn't sell, I thought I would have to keep him. “I had another horse a few years ago that got passed in for A$70,000. I ended up keeping him. He went on to win a few races and later I was offered A$1.5m for him. So there you go. Its difficult to predict what could happen," said Harvey Allan Endresz has said in an earlier interview with ED that the horse’s ear for Frank Sinatra songs is one of the main reasons he selected the Alligator Blood. Gerry Harvey has found this very interesting. “I breed a lot of horses. They can all do things. Everyone looks for an x-factor in their horse. "Some look for a big heart, long legs, intelligence and much more. Over the years I met almost every kind of horse-expert there is. "I have seen many great judges of horses. But on the day no one wanted to buy this horse. They probably didn’t see what Endresz saw in him,” he said. Harvey once said in an interview, "you get that air of satisfaction from achievement. It makes you feel good. We are only here for a very short time, and so you’re crazy if you don’t go out and try to milk it to the greatest extent you can.”
Satisfaction is the reason he breeds and races top-quality horses as well. Gerry Harvey not only owns both Baramul Stud and Westbury Stud, but he also owns the Magic Millions’ Auction house which he runs with his wife Page, “I love a deal, adore a trade, can't get enough of top-end sport and I've been bitten by the racing bug, and Magic Millions embraces all of that," Harvey said. “I am in the business of growing businesses. I get a lot of satisfaction from selling the best quality of everything. "I breed cattle and try to breed those cattle which have the highest marble score, “I grow mini-cucumbers and get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that I grow the cucumbers that people want to eat," he said.
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“Similarly, I breed champion racehorses. I love breeding horses. They give me a lot of satisfaction. But if I wasn’t breeding top-quality horses that win iconic Group One races I wouldn’t want to be in this industry.” “I am involved in lots and lots of businesses. But when I wake up in the morning, I want to do something interesting,” said Harvey. Going back to Alligator Blood who is a favourite for one of the Everest slots he says,” what Peter Vyland is pulled off was extraordinary. "No one else could do it. And that’s very satisfying because you are doing something no one else can pull off, Doing something like that you can change the world.“I’d love to see Alligator Blood race in The Everest and win. It would be very satisfying.” " says Harvey with a smile.
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The man who launched the career of one of Australasia’s premier trainers, Chris Waller, goes quiet before revealing “Right now my favourite horse is Alligator Blood. He’s the one!” “My favourite horse is always a Group One winner that I’ve bred or I own.” We now know who Harvey will be cheering for come Everest Day.
LOVING GABY ALL THE WAY FROM MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY FOR THE EVEREST 16 | EVEREST DIARIES
Ciaron Maher is all set for his stable star Loving Gaby to resume her career with the Gr. 1 A$1m Moir Stakes (1000m) which will be held at Mooney Valley Racecourse during the 2020 Spring Carnival. Maher, who trains in partnership trainer David Eustace, is hoping a good performance by Loving Gaby in the Moir would attract the attention of A$15m The Everest slot holders. “She is a very high-quality mare. She is stronger this year “She has been phenomenal, the way she raced in the open company last year. We expect her to even better upon her return as a 3YO," said Maher.
“The Everest and the Golden Eagle are two targets really for her. “The ideal scenario is that she runs in the Moir and then up into the Everest that is what we want to do," he said in an exclusive interview with ED. Maher and Eustace have training complexes in Victoria and at Warwick Farm in Sydney. And Loving Gaby is in Victoria at the moment, which is perfect for her season debut in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes however her location has thrown a small spanner in the works for her Everest plans. Obviously there are races for her down here (in Melbourne), but we would love to be able to race her up in Sydney,” his cotrainer Eustace had said in an interview with Racing Pulse. But their plans depend on whether the border between the two states is reopened for horses to travel by the end of September. "I am hoping that Racing NSW find a way to relax the borders in time for The Everest," said Maher hopefully for his stable star and potential Everest champion. In just ten short years, Ciaron Maher has gone from being a Jockey to a leading jockey to one of the top trainers in Australasia. He has worked under everyone including C S Hayes, Bart Cummings, Aidan O'Brien and many other racing greats.
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“The ideal scenario is that she runs in the Moir and then up into the Everest that is what we want to do.”
“Loving Gaby has always been a favourite among all of the Phoenix Thoroughbreds team, says Amer Abdulaziz, CEO of Phoenix Thoroughbreds, a global racing organisation which owns Loving Gaby. "Not only is she incredibly talented, winning two Group Ones as a 3YO, but she also has a terrific personality and attitude. "She was also named after a close friend of our Head of Legal and we wanted to make sure we honoured her memory with a talented filly. She is probably my favourite of the horses we own in Australia," said Abdulaziz of his champion I Am Invincible mare. Loving Gaby is the winner of both the Gr.1 A$1m Manikato Stakes (2019) and the Gr.1 A$500,000 William Reid Stakes (2020).
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An A$500,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase she has now amassed A$2,281,250 in career earnings, having won four out of her thirteen starts. “She made her presence felt at the Easter sale. We knew she was a good horse from the start," recalled Maher. “She is very strong. She weighs about 600 kgs and has a great attitude. She is very straightforward to train and is very obvious in her work," he said Only three slots for The Everest have been secured so far. International and out of state connections alike are hoping the decision to ban horses from entering NSW from Victoria is relaxed with Spring Carnival looming close.
ALLIGATOR BLOOD POINTING TO THE EAGLE VIA THE EVEREST
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Alligator Blood is fortitude personified for his owners. He is a beacon of hope for his fans. And his journey to immortality has only just begun. Trainer David Vandyke is keen for his stable champion to race in the A$15 million leading up to the race in the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle, “The Everest is a good lead up race for the Golden Eagle, Sunlight ran tenth in the Everest then ran second in the Eagle,’’ he said. Of course, Vandyke has a Plan B already chalked out in the form of the A$500,000 Silver Eagle for 4YOs in case the slot in The Everest does not materialize.
Vandyke’s journey started with a short meeting with Alligator Blood’s owners during which they watched his training methods. The trainer has been faced with a series of challenges with the COVID restrictions. None of which seem to faze him. Alligator Blood is on track for the Doomben on September 12. “The problem is that they have is that they have put the weight scale up due to COVID-19," says Vandyke with a pause. “However, if that doesn't work out then he will go down to Queensland and if we have problems there then we can always look for other races in Sydney," concludes David with a smile. Of greater concern to Vandyke than where he may or may not run later in the spring, though, is ensuring Alligator Blood is relaxed and able to ‘get cover’. “He had a string in his bow before we went to Melbourne where he could get cover and switch off and we haven’t seen that for a long time. "
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I want to see it again before we get to the races. If this horse is going to get longevity we need to see him being able to relax, get cover and travel sweetly," said the trainer in another interview. He sounded relieved about the slow return to normalcy in Australia after challenges faced because of COVID19, “There are obviously restrictions. There have been changes to the (racing) program and a reduction of prize money but we are very lucky that there's been no sign of COVID-19 at the stables or among the people we know.” Alligator Blood like his fans and the attention he gets at the races, “He gets a little excited at the races. He is quite a sensitive horse and he appreciates his interaction with people.” "Alligator Blood is a strong personality,” says the softly spoken Vandyke. “We have another horse – Wolfman owned by the same ownership group. He has also won quite impressively last year and I would like him to go down to Sydney for some of the other main races,” said the trainer proudly.
Vandyke believes in keeping things simple, “I am quite comfortable with my stable (and its form) and I hope it's in the same shape in 10 years’ time as well.” “I have a good team at the stable they enjoy simple things and like to keep my training as simple as possible.” Vandyke has left the troubles of securing an Everest slot to owner Allen Endrez. “We don't have a slot yet but we are negotiating one.” “I like to be simple. I like to have a good balance physically, mentally and spiritually. But The Everest is obviously the biggest race in the world it would be an honour to have a runner.” “I am certainly planning on winning and maintaining my well-balanced lifestyle in the future as well,” said the trainer in conclusion.
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STATISTICS
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