In a major coup for Australian racing, HRH Queen Elizabeth II has expressed an intention to be part of Australia’s Royal Randwick Championships by sending Aussie trainer Gai Waterhouse an emerging track star to be trained for the famed Australian carnival.
Queen Elizabeth’s racing manager John Warren, currently on the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions sales, related that Waterhouse had trained the Queen’s Carlton House who was placed in last year’s $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes. “He was a very hard horse to train. Gai did a tremendous job but we didn’t quite get the big win.”
In a royal seal of approval, the Queen has requested that another horse, the five-year-old Bold Sniper who has three wins from 11 starts to his credit, be sent for Sydney’s great races. Warren commented, “Gai is going to take possession of him this week. It gives the Queen another dimension and keeps her attached to the Australian scene which she has gained tremendous pleasure from.”
Mr Warren said the Queen was hopeful Bold Sniper, which is described as being on the brink of becoming a top line horse, would make it to the carnival. “I would hope that Gai might get him for the carnival but that might be a big ask,” Mr Warren said.
Mr Warren is playing a bigger role in Australian racing. He has formed a strong friendship with Gerry Harvey and his wife Katie Page-Harvey and has become regular at the Magic Millions. The power couple’s booming sale is drawing some of the world’s biggest names to Australia. “This is a wonderful sale, “ Mr Warren said.
(source: Daily Telegraph)
