MIKE MORONEY - At 16 Mike Moroney began working with Paul Sullivan and progressed to the position of Stable Foreman. In 1983 he obtained his training licence and began to build up his New Zealand Stables. After 16 yrs in New Zealand during which time he won 2 N.Z. Premierships he started to expand. He first set up in South Australia in 1999 but after 2 yrs he made the move to Victoria. He now operates 2 successful stables both called Ballymore. He spends most of his time at Flemington and brother Paul looks after Matamata. While he is more often associated with middle distance to staying distance performers he has had success training two year old horses to win races such as the Blue Diamond Stakes and top class stayers in the Melbourne Cup.
BART CUMMINGS - young J.B. Cummings worked for his father Jim, strapping his horse Comic Court when it won the Melbourne Cup in 1950. Took out his licence in 1953 to train at Flemington. In an extraordinary career, has trained the winners of 12 Melbourne Cups to date, 5 times training the quinella. Has won every significant Group1 Race in Australia, many more than once, and been premier trainer in 3 states. His eye for a horse and his canny training methods are legendary. Mostly known for training stayers although also has 4 Golden Slippers to his credit. Very patient, will set a horse for a particular race and have it show nothing until the right day, making his long term plans hard to predict. One thing we do know is that he likes to win big races, leading many punters to back all Bart’s runners in the Group 1 events, just in case. Bart Cummings' website.
PETER SNOWDEN - started as a rider in country racing and took out his trainer’s license working a small collection of horses. Joined the Ingham Bloodstock organisation as one of six foremen, soon promoted to manager under trainer Vic Thomson and then with John Hawkes. In the ten years with Hawkes, Peter was often seen in the media representing the stable. When Hawkes left to form a new training partnership with his sons, Peter became the trainer for Ingham. A short time later, Ingham Bloodstock and Woodland Stud was sold to the Darley Racing group, with approximately 230 employees and 1000 horses in training and at Stud in Sydney & Melbourne. Snowdon remains the trainer but now works with the support of one of the largest horse racing groups in the world.
MICK PRICE - spent his first 10 years gaining experience with a number of trainers at Epsom (a training track near Mordialloc Victoria) and took out his own licence in 1991. With the closing of Epsom, moved into Lee Freedman’s old stables at Caulfield in 1996. Starting from only one horse to train in 1991, Mick has built his success and reputation as a first class horseman to where he has many Group 1 wins to his credit as one of the top trainers in Victoria. Mick Price's website.
CHRIS WALLER - first worked with the former New Zealand and well known Singapore trainer Paddy Busuttin in Foxton on the North Island. He got his first taste of success in Australia during his time as a travelling foreman for Paddy, coming to Melbourne in 1992 with the horse Castletown. They managed a gallant 3rd behind Subzero and Veandercross in the 1992 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Chris took over the Foxton Stables when Busuttin moved to Singapore. In 1998 he made the trip to Sydney with just one horse - Party Belle - and went home with the winners prize money in his pocket. Over time he established a small operation at Rosehill, eventually moving his operation there in 2003. By the end of the 2011 season with over 100 wins he has become the top trainer in Sydney, Beating the Darley operation under Peter Snowdon and Gai Waterhouse a close 3rd in the trainers premiership. Chris Waller's website.
DANNY O'BRIEN - Danny comes from an unusual background having first achieved degrees in Economics and Law before deciding to try life with horses. He strapped for Bart Cummings under stable foreman Leon Corstens, who is now also a noted trainer in his own right. Danny took out his training licence in 1995 at Epsom. He then moved to Flemington taking over Lee Freedman’s old stables and has since added a purpose built modern training stables near Barwon Heads. He is in the front rank of the newer group of trainers making the old guard work for it and with Group 1 wins to his credit and promising horses like Star Witness, No Jurisdiction and Pins on Ice in his care and more good 3 year olds to come is set to have a big hand in the Spring & Autumn carnivals
Danny O'Brien's website.
GERALD RYAN - a successful jockey before moving into training in the early 90’s in Melbourne. Soon in the top rank of Melbourne trainers, moved to Malaysia for a short time before returning to Australia to take out a trainer’s license on the Gold Coast in 1998. Quickly picking up where he left off, rapid success followed allowing him to open up another stable at Rosehill. Gerald is one of Australia’s top trainers with many Group 1 winners to his credit including Clangalang and past winners now at stud like Racers Edge and Snitzel. Gerald Ryan's website.
GAI WATERHOUSE - Gai has a very strong racing pedigree as the daughter of the legendary T. J. (Tommy) Smith but spent her early years as an actor in the U.K. where she appeared in a number of T.V. series including a brief stint in the iconic Dr Who with Tom Baker. By the time she returned to Australia, Tulloch Lodge was a very large operation and Gai took a big hand in the running of the business. Married to bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse who was involved in the Fine Cotton Affair and warned off racecourses for many years, this also prevented Gai from obtaining a training licence. After 15 years assisting Tommy and many attempts she was finally permitted a license in 1992 and trained in her own name for the first time. In her first year she won the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap and was second in the Melbourne Cup with Te Akau Nick. In 1994 Tommy retired handing control of Tulloch Lodge over to Gai. In ’95, among other successes, Nothin Leica Dane won the Victoria Derby beating Octagonal and came a gallant second to Doriemus in the Melbourne Cup. In the 96/97 season Gai beat of John Hawkes to win her first Sydney Premiership, but it would not be her last. An outgoing and forceful personality, she is usually spotted near the winners stall on race days and stands out both for her exceptional taste in fashion and her extraordinary skills as a trainer. Gai Waterhouse's website.
LEE FREEDMAN - Lee’s family has strong historical racing links. His great grandfather Bill (Midge) McLachlan was a jockey who won (among many other things) 3 Melbourne Cups and 2 Caulfield Cups, His son, ‘Young Bill’ was also a brilliant jockey and is credited as the first Australian jockey to ride for England’s Royal Family. Lees father Tony Freedman is the son of Bills daughter, Maude. The young Freedman brothers honed their horsemanship skills at his thoroughbred breeding farm in Yass until Tony suggested they move to their own stable complex in Melbourne in 1984. Sadly Tony died shortly after the move to Melbourne, but his inspiration led Lee to become the head of what would become one of Australia’s most important training establishments. Initially working with brothers Anthony, Richard & Michael and known as the F.B.I. (Freedman Brothers Incorporated) the operation grew rapidly with their first Group 1 Miss Clipper in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville 1986, then training the Quinella in the 1989 Melbourne Cup with Tawriffic and Super Impose. In 1991 Super Impose won the Doncaster- Epsom Double and in 1992 won the Caulfield Cup with Mannerism, The Cox Plate with Super impose and the Melbourne Cup with Subzero. In 1996 moved to Caulfield and won the Melbourne Trainers Premiership in ‘96/’97 and ‘97/98. In 2003 Lee made the move to Markdel, a purpose built modern establishment with training track and access to beach and sea for the horses near Rye. He took over Makybe Diva who had won the ’03 Melbourne Cup and trained her to win the Melbourne Cup in 2004 and again in 2005 when she also won the Cox Plate. He had further success with the sprinting mare Miss Andretti. With 6 Premierships, 5 Melbourne Cups, 4 Caulfield Cups, 8 Derbies and 2 Cox Plates Lee Freedman is an outstanding trainer who’s full story is yet to be told. For more visit the Freedman website.
MARK KAVANAGH - worked as a jumps jockey for 12 years and claims to have ridden 3 Melbourne cup winners despite never having competed on the flat. His mother used to cook for the next door neighbour’s racing stables and as a youngster he got to ride Light Fingers, Galilee and Red Handed at Bart Cummings' place. Took a trainer’s license in 1991 training in Mt. Gambier. After initial early success moved to Adelaide in 2000 and in 2003 bought his current stables in Morphetville. By following his dream to train from Flemington, he quickly began to make his mark. Has been a consistent high achiever and among other achievements won the Adelaide Cup 2004, Blue Diamond Stakes 2005 and Emirates Stakes 2006. Faced some highs and lows 2007 when Devil Moon, Divine Madonna and Maldivian were all Group 1 winners, but Caulfield Cup favourite Maldivian was a late scratching after becoming injured in the barriers. The horse recovered to win the following year’s Cox Plate. In 2009 Mark cemented his place in Melbourne’s top echelons when Shocking won the Melbourne Cup at good odds. Mark Kavanagh's website.
DAVID HAYES - from one of racing’s legendary families. His father Colin (C.S.) Hayes was a master trainer who dominated racing in Victoria and S.A. from the 70’s to the 1990 before handing over the training to David. Colin Hayes was Adelaide’s Premier Trainer for 27 years and during the same period was also Melbourne’s leading trainer for 13 years from 1977 to 1990. David ran the Lindsay Park operation from 1990 to 1995 and was leading trainer in both Adelaide and Melbourne for 5 yrs. before opening up the family business in Hong Kong where he trained for 9 seasons for 458 winners and was twice Premier trainer in Hong Kong and always in the top four. David’s brother Peter successfully ran the Lindsey Park operation until his death in a light plane crash in 2001. David returned to Australia in 2005 to run Lindsay Park and once again was recognised as the leading trainer in Adelaide and Melbourne and up till now can claim 9 Adelaide, 7 Melbourne, 2 Hong Kong Premierships and still counting. With a swag of Group 1’s to his credit including the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, he is the only Australian trainer to win the Japan Cup with Better Loosen Up 1990. David Hayes website.
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PETER MOODY - from Charleville in Queensland got his early racing experience working for some of the top stables in Australia including T. J. Smith & Colin Hayes. He spent 10 yrs. with Bill Mitchell in Brisbane before taking out his training License in 2001. First Group 1 win with Amalfi in the Victoria Derby 2001and after setting up satellite stable at Caulfield decided to move his operation to Victoria. With numerous Group wins to his credit, stable star Black Caviar won 13 from 13 starts and, after a break, is back in training for the 2011 Spring. in 2011 He established a huge lead for the trainer premiership and looks as though he will top 100 in the 2010/11 season. Peter Moody's website.
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