Gai Waterhouse talks to jockey tommy Berry. The pair combined to win yesterday's Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle. Source: News Limited
THE latest showdown with stewards involving Gai Waterhouse only adds to speculation the top trainer is about to farewell Sydney for Melbourne.
Don't for a second think this is far-fetched.
In fact, Carnival Confidential can reveal Waterhouse only recently purchased a home in Bleak City.
Waterhouse has been crying out for more boxes at Randwick, only to be fobbed off by the Australian Turf Club.
Down south, our Melbourne sources informed us the Victoria Racing Club is more than happy to accommodate her needs.
The recent run-ins with officialdom have only made her decision to head south all the more appealing.
Waterhouse is in hot water for not reporting the condition of Rockabill prior to the Spring Stakes on Wednesday. There were reports the horse was lame on Tuesday, and it was left to Racing NSW stewards to inspect the horse early Wednesday and then scratch him.
An inquiry will now be opened this afternoon.
This follows on from the long-running More Joyous saga, as well as the stewards needing to step in to scratch Aussies Love Sport from last Saturday's Golden Rose, despite Waterhouse keen to run the colt against the owners' wishes.
The common theme in all this is Waterhouse sees herself as the best judge when it comes to starting horses. She has an unbelievable strike rate when it comes to winners. Why should it be left to stewards to tell her when and who she can start?
Stewards simply want Waterhouse to play by the rules and report any hiccups with her horses. At the end of the day, no trainer is above the law.
Still, it would be a crying shame if Waterhouse eventually upped stumps and took her business interstate. She's one of the few trainers in Sydney who is recognised by non-punters.
Her Randwick stables would bring millions if sold to developers.
Watch this space.
Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira (centre) at Broadmeadow Racecourse in Newcastle yesterday. Source: News Limited
MOREIRA'S NEWCASTLE CAMEO
SINGAPORE champion jockey Joao Moreira told us yesterday how he asked to try his luck in Australia two years ago after a phone call from billionaire Nathan Tinkler.
Tinkler was flying back then, and wanted the Brazilian to ride for Patinack Farm.
Moreira made a cameo, winning the Chelmsford Stakes and Hill Stakes on Trusting that year, as well as the Gimcrack Stakes of Hussousa.
"Nathan offered me a job two years ago, but I didn't think it was the right time to leave Singapore given I was riding good horses," said Moreira, who would have to be one of the politest blokes you'd ever meet.
"Nathan was such a genuine guy, and I can only say good things about him. He was very good to me. He moved to Singapore, but I haven't met him yet."
Moreira will soon leave Singapore for Hong Kong, and bows out of the Asian nation with the honour of kicking home eight winners from eight rides. He did the unthinkable at the September 6 Kranji meeting, and reckons there was a little divine intervention at play.
A religious man, Moreira, 30, told Carnival Confidential: "I never thought I'd win that many. I thought I could win four races, and that would have made me happy. I ended up winning every race.
"I think things worked out because of the guy `upstairs'. He made the day very special for myself. I really believe that, that there was a little bit of his hand."
Moreira said the best part about the once-in-a-lifetime feat was it created worldwide headlines, with his mother Helena and seven siblings all ringing to congratulate him.
Hailing from Brazil, Moreira supports Corinthians, but wasn't a star at the round-ball game.
THAT'S A BIT RICH ... OR NOT
SPEAKING of Tinkler, the mining magnate is a notable exclusion from the latest BRW Young Rich list.
Tinkler topped the list in 2011 with $1.1 billion - the year he pursued Moreira - then came in second last year with $400 million. This year he failed to make the $18 million cut-off to sneak into the top 100.
Blake Shinn is all smiles after winning the Cameron Handicap on one of his favourite horses, Toydini, on Wednesday. Source: News Limited
SHINN TOYS WITH WEIGHT
JOCKEY Blake Shinn has already started keeping an eye on his weight given there's still a slim chance he could still ride Toydini in the Epsom.
Toydini's Epsom weight was raised one kilo to 53kg after Wednesday's win in the Cameron Handicap. Shinn quickly ruled himself out given he physically can't get down to that weight.
However, if trainer Chris Waller decided to ditch the Epsom with topweight Shoot Out, that will mean the weights will have to be raised, and therefore Toydini goes to a Shinn-friendly 54kg.
Under Australian Racing rule 103, the Epsom must have a minimum 58kg topweight. Should second topweight Sincero also come out, the weights will be raised two kilos.
Shinn was suspended for six meetings late yesterday, but acting chief steward Greg Rudolph said given the big racing at this time of year, the penalty meant he could return on Epsom Day.
Meanwhile, Shinn would love to kick home a feature double for trainer Guy Walter when he pilots Streama in tomorrow's George Main Stakes (1600m).
Streama is also Epsom bound, and almost become the forgotten horse in the George Main. She did give Rain Affair no peace in the Warwick Stakes, and was only dudded on the line by Veyron.
"I think she's the forgotten horse, especially with all the talk surrounding Hawkspur," Shinn said.
"She did beast Hawkspur home first-up, and she also beat Toydini, so the formlines around her are really good. She was going great going into that first-up race, and she's going equally as well now. It would be a great thrill to ride a Group 1 winner for Guy on one of his favourite horses."
Walter scratched Streama from the Chelmsford in favour of waiting an extra fortnight for the George Main. He was confident she could have won the Chelmsford had she started.
GOLD ERA DAWNS
THE Australian Turf Club has hit a new low - they've embraced that dreaded drop, XXXX Gold.
A giant B-double truck will be parked on the leger lawn tomorrow, selling the poison that's worshipped north of the border.
We'd never thought we'd say it, but, gulp, bring back San Miguel.
In fact, if the ATC started selling Tooheys Old - a multiple Group 1 drop - this column will never, ever, ever write a bad word about them again.
Exciting sprinter Tiger Tees (centre) returns in The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday. Source: News Limited
RAIN GOES, TIGER ON PROWL
JOE Pride sent Rain Affair to the paddock this week, but is more than keen to see the return of another sprinter, Tiger Tees, in tomorrow's Group 2 The Shorts (1100m).
Tiger Tees suffered a stress fracture to the pelvis in the autumn, but Pride said he couldn't be happier with his chestnut, who flies fresh, loves the 1100m and won his only start at Randwick.
"He'll run Saturday and then run in the Premiere Stakes, then he'll go to Melbourne. Depending on how he performs Saturday will determine how high we aim with him," Pride said.
Tiger Tees has racked up nearly $500,000 in prizemoney and is clearly no slouch second-stringer to Rain Affair.
Rain Affair has gone for a spell, with Pride admitting he always knew the spring would be kept short because of the sprinter's involvement in the Brisbane winter.
NOT A FLATTERING STREAK
THERE wasn't a happy ending for the streaker at Newcastle on Wednesday.
The bloke, who at first glance looked a gelding, stripped off midway through the afternoon and sprinted down the straight as the crowd cheered him.
"But he ran out of puff after a couple of furlongs," Newcastle Jockey Club boss Cameron Williams said.
"He passed the winning post and got around to the tie-up stalls where security nabbed him. The chief investigator also dealt with the matter straight away."
Williams revealed the $11.2 million upgrade of the Newcastle course proper and the B-grass, which will become a second racetrack _ similar to Randwick's Kensington track _ would soon be put out to tender. The club hopes to be racing on the inner track by next spring.
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