March 21, 2020
Legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse has won a record seventh Longines Golden Slipper with Farnan – this time in partnership with trainer Adrian Bott – breaking the training record of her late father TJ Smith.
The Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW introduced a wide range of biosecurity measures at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday to ensure Australia’s biggest day of Group 1 racing could continue.
The Not A Single Doubt colt Farnan was ridden by champion jockey Hugh Bowman, who also won his first Longines Golden Slipper.
Waterhouse’s seventh victory in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds comes after she first won the race in 2001 with Ha Ha – a race in which she trained the trifecta.
Her stable’s other winners have been Dance Hero (2004), Sebring (2008), Pierro (2012), Overreach (2013) and Vancouver (2015).
Her co-trainer Adrian Bott said after the race: “What a thrill, I’m very honoured and very humble to do it alongside a legend.
“For Gai to have six Golden Slippers, and now seven, and to do it with her, and with a colt with such quality, it’s really special for all involved.
“Gai is as confident as ever, maybe I worry a little bit more, but she’s always been confident and it is comforting to have that person alongside you who has been there and done it before so many times.”
Jockey Hugh Bowman said: “I’d just like to congratulate Gai and Adrian and their team for the preparation to develop this horse. To behave and race the way he did this afternoon was second to none.
“I’ve been lucky enough to ride some really good horses over my career as everyone knows but I haven’t ridden a better two-year-old.
“It’s great for Adrian, well he was more a part of this than Gai to be honest, as he’s doing all the groundwork with the guidance of Gai.”