Gai Waterhouse - Anti Balding Extension, Takes Aim at NSW Trainers Assn

Breednet - Thursday November 16

Industry heavyweight Gai Waterhouse has weighed in to support John Messara and others who have opposed the proposed extension of Racing NSW chairman, Russell Balding’s term of office for another 2 years, and taken aim at the NSW Trainers Association's stance in the process.

Gai Waterhouse

The issue centres around Balding having his term extended on the Racing NSW board by the NSW Govt for a third time, which will see his tenure stretch to 14 years, well beyond the statutory eight.

Advertisement

Messara yesterday led the calls against the move, labelling it “bad governance” of which Waterhouse agrees.

“I was not consulted by the NSW Trainers Association when it sent a letter supporting Mr Balding’s chairmanship term extension and have not spoken to anyone who was consulted,” said Waterhouse.

“I would not have supported it and agree with John Messara and Katie Page that it would reflect bad governance.

“Anyone who knows anything about racing would generally respect and back John Messara, who is the doyen of Australian racing.

“I also think that is very important that any refresh of the Racing NSW board selects directors that have good experience and knowledge of racing.”

More - Messara Criticises Proposed Balding Extension.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Love Poem Looking to Continue Snitzel Winning Run
Love Poem’s progress this preparation earned the gifted filly an earlier than anticipated flight to Christchurch to bolster Stephen Marsh’s hand in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$2.4million Roses for Debra Tops Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Day 1
Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm paid $2.4 million for Grade 2 winner Roses for Debra, a 5-year-old daughter of Liam’s Map, to top a strong day of trade during the Book 1 opener of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Roses for Debra was one of nine seven-figure horses sold on Tuesday, contributing to a nearly 15% increase in gross sales over last year.
New York Hurricane Captures Kyneton Cup
A popular hometown win for New York Hurricane, who was the last horse standing in a brutally run Bet365 Kyneton Cup (2006m).
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for Headwater
With a plethora of racing all over Australia on Cup Day there were opportunities aplenty and Vinery Stud’s value sire Headwater made his mark with a new stakes-winner on Perth at Ascot where three year-old filly London’s Image captured the Listed WATC Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m).
Melbourne Cup Winner for Extreme Choice – Rare Slice of History
This year’s $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) produced a genuinely amazing fairytale result for the connections of five year-old Extreme Choice gelding Knight’s Choice, but part of that fairytale is his sire Extreme Choice, who has carved out something seriously special as being only the second sire in history to produce the winner of a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Darley Announce European Fees 2025
Darley have announced fees on their roster off 22 sires standing in the UK, Ireland and France with Dubawi heading the list at a fee of £350,000 for the third year in a row.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.