News

Fat Al delivers Gai’s seventh Epsom

6th Oct 2012

Lightly raced four-year-old Fat Al delivered champion trainer Gai Waterhouse her seventh Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, equalling the feat of her father TJ Smith.

Fat Al ($27,000 2010 Easter II, 4g Al Maher-Fatoon) bounced straight to front in the day’s $500,000 feature under jockey Tommy Berry, steadied mid race and showed a strong turn of foot topping the famous Randwick rise before fighting out a close finish with Ambidexter to take out the prestigious event.

A bargain $27,000 purchase from the draft of Emirates Park at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Fat Al had all his connections jumping for joy after the win, including his great trainer.

“What a great ride by Tommy [Berry], how about the way he took them on and went whoosh,” Gai Waterhouse said after the record equalling victory.

“He defied all the rest of them, he’s just a genius. The horse has just lived right up to it, I’m so thrilled for him. It was outstanding, good on him, good on Fat Al, go Fat Al,” Gai called out.

Today was jockey Tommy Berry’s first ride on Fat Al since March when he rode the galloper to victory in the Albury Guineas, where connections picked up a $50,000 Inglis Race Series Bonus for the win. Berry was full of praise for both Gai and the horse.

“To go in the record books with Gai equalling her father is unbelievable,” Berry said.

“Gai is just a marvel, she’s a champion, she’s really knows how to get a horse to the Epsom.

“He was fresh today, he pulled me around to the gates which he hasn’t done before, he was quick early, got to the front, relaxed and typical Gai Waterhouse horse once he gets headed he said Ambidexter not this time buddy it’s my turn,” Berry exclaimed.

Bred by Emirates Park and sold from their draft at Easter to Gai Waterhouse, the son of Al Maher has now won six and placed another three times from his 10 career starts.

Today’s victory took the $27,000 yearling purchases’ earnings past $650,000, a great result for his owners; Ms K Waterhouse, Mrs L M Bruhn, A W Bruhn, Mrs L J Bruhn, S W Bruhn, P A Mills, Mrs D M Mills, The Agents Racing Synd, Recurpen Synd & Blue Demon Synd.

Vision of Fat Al as a yearling at Emirates Park prior to his sale with Inglis at Easter can be viewed at www.inglis.com.au