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Gai Waterhouse | Gai Waterhouse About

HISTORY

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have been in partnership since 2016. They have been a dominating force in the Australian thoroughbred industry ever since. The story of Tulloch Lodge began in 1941 when TJ Smith, Gai’s father, received his training licence. During the next fifty years, Tulloch Lodge produced some of the best horses ever to run in Australia, including the legendary Kingston Town and Tulloch. TJ became the most successful trainer of Group 1 winners in Australia, training a record 282 winners at the highest level, and receiving 33 consecutive trainers’ premierships. In 1992, TJ handed the reins to his daughter Gai, who has become a racing sensation in her own right and has steered Tulloch Lodge to new heights in the 21st century. Following in her father’s footsteps, Gai has trained 150 Group 1 winners, including seven Golden Slippers. To date, Gai & Adrian have collectively trained 16 Group 1 winners.

Our Facilities

The heart of Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing is the historic Tulloch Lodge, located at Bowral Street, Kensington, seven kilometres from the Sydney CBD. Gai & Adrian also have access to 24 boxes at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. At Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing horses are accommodated where they are happiest. They have access to day yards, are housed on luxurious straw bedding and provided with superior feed, care and supervision. TJ Smith made significant contributions to current thinking around horse nutrition and was renowned for his ‘bone-and-muscle’ regime that produced fit and strong horses. Gai & Adrian have blended his legacy with their own observations to ensure that every horse in their care achieves its full potential.

In addition to Tulloch Lodge, Gai & Adrian train out of Tempest Morn Lodge, Farnan Lodge, Bounding Away Lodge, Desert War Lodge, and Sugar Rush Lodge which provide direct access to Randwick Racecourse. The stable also obtain 24 boxes at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne and have arrangements in other capital cities so that horses are positioned to achieve the best results.

Training facilities at Royal Randwick are second-to-none. The techniques employed by Gai & Adrian include training horses on a variety of track surfaces, swimming - both in the equine pool and at nearby Botany Bay, the handwalking of horses over Randwick’s hills, treadmill work and the use of many modern aids. We encourage owners to participate and attend trackwork, barrier trials and open days at the stables. Owners are welcome to attend early morning gallops beginning at 4:30 am and “Sunday Stables” which is open to all our owners on Sundays from 11:00 a.m.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Gai Waterhouse

Being born the daughter of the most successful horse trainer in the history of Australian racing certainly comes with its benefits. However, when the daughter decides to follow in her father’s footsteps, massive expectation and pressure soon follows. When Gai finally was granted her trainers’ licence and took control of Tulloch Lodge in 1992, not even the most optimistic of pundits could have predicted that not only would Gai emulate her famous father T.J. Smith but in fact would go on to steer the stable to the dizzy heights Tulloch Lodge has enjoyed since the turn of the millennium.

ADRIAN BOTT

Growing up at historic Segenhoe Stud, Adrian Bott was surrounded by thoroughbreds, so it was no surprise he always wanted to be part of the world of racing and breeding and has worked hard with this aim in mind. At just 29 years of age Adrian Bott was given one of the most coveted positions in Australian, if not international racing when he became co-trainer with the incomparable Gai Waterhouse.