Gai Waterhouse has claimed her first Melbourne Cup with Fiorente to firmly prove herself not just one of the best trainers in Australia, but the world.
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“To the horse, he’s a pleasure to train. From the moment he stepped into Flemington twelve months ago, he’s never disappointed us,” said Waterhouse.
Waterhouse also gave plenty of praise to her winning rider, Damien Oliver.
“To Damien, you steered him a treat. It was joyous to watch.”
Waterhouse commenced her training career back in 1992 when she took over her father and hall-of-fame trainer Tommy Smith’s Tulloch Lodge.
Without a Melbourne Cup victory, Gai has been training in the shadows of her father who won two. But that is no longer the case, with Waterhouse now winning Australia’s richest race on her own.
The Melbourne Cup has been the missing piece of Waterhouse’s trophy room after winning just about every other race in the country.
Waterhouse has come agonisingly close to victory in the Melbourne Cup but Fiorente’s victory proudly lifted the pressure off her shoulders after training Te Akau Nick in 1993, Nothin’ Leica Dane in 1995 and Fiorente in 2012 all into second place in the Cup.
With today’s victory, Fiorente becomes just the fourth horse in the history of the Cup to win the following year after running second.
Fiorente was sent out as the $7 favourite. Waterhouse and son Tom had been talking Fiorente up all week and they walked the talk today.
Two years ago, Waterhouse was involved in a bidding war with Melbourne trainer Michael Moroney to purchase Fiorente from Europe. Waterhouse eventually won the bidding war and purchased the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner for $1million.
The $3.6million pay check for today’s win has firmly vindicated Waterhouse’s decision to purchase the Melbourne Cup winner.
Drew H
Guest
I agree sheek. She once wanted the stock whip put away, but I wasn't sure if her training practices were matching. They call her Luna Park, but I think that she does plenty to give horse racing a big lift. Her family run a book, but I think that she plays the probability games well. But I'm not sure if she is really at the track every morning working as hard as the media shows. I'd reckon that she's more like an actor reciting her lines.
sheek
Roar Guru
You know Nick, While there are aspects of the Waterhouse clan that remain unresolved in the public domain, one mistake or one wrong act doesn't make Oliver a bad person. Or a cheat. In fact, he is an outstanding human being who suffered poor judgement in a moment of distress/weakness. You've never done the same, succumbed to a wrong or bad act in a moment of weakness?
sheek
Roar Guru
Alfred, I wasn't willing to back any of Gai's horses, mainly because I reckon she flogs her horses in training. Might get away with it re sprinters & milers, but not stayers. But heck, I don't mind being proven wrong. Fiorente was very impressive in his win, ridden superbly by Damian Oliver. I seriously doubt Nash Rawiller could have been as impressive, but we'll never know. Anyway, good luck to Gai. Well done.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
A dark day indeed Nick. I'm waiting for the 'Hitler finds out Gai finally wins the Cup' version. From The Downfall movie. It's been used for various unpopular results and decisions in sport and other areas these past few years on YouTube. With sub titles obviously. Might ease the pain a bit.
kv joef
Guest
Wow Nick, you must have won a motza. What a deduction! Sherlock would have been proud of that 'elementary'. They say the only people who get hurt by a 'fix' is those who don't know about it. Next time throw in your two-bobs-worth before the race so we all can benefit.
Nick
Roar Guru
The wife of a bookie, mother of a bookie, daughter in law to a bookie decides to team up with a known cheat jockey to win the Melbourne cup. Yep, it truly is the sport of kings.
Drew H
Guest
Gai will probably be selling our next batch of international horses in Australia. The way Australia has managed the pedigree in the past is pathetic. Obviously, the media is constantly saying this now by way of promoting distance horses. The fix is not to buy an international horse. Buy local. Really, at the end of the day, there isn't anything except the next sale. Nobody will say that you already own the right horse for the future of racing. The current owners will always be wrong after they have spent.
Avon River
Guest
Gai has put enough in now that I'm happy for her. I never like Melb Cup wins to come too easily.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Gai Waterhouse becomes just the second woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner. The first was Sheila Laxon in 2001 with Ethereal.