I have been back in Newmarket this week to put the finishing touches to Brazen Beau's preparation for the Darley July Cup. Again, it has been a very refreshing exercise.
I have been back in Newmarket this week to put the finishing touches to Brazen Beau's preparation for the Darley July Cup. Again, it has been a very refreshing exercise.
Like any visiting trainer, I have been completely blown away by the training grounds of Newmarket. The variety of gallops cannot be matched anywhere in the world. They are fantastic.
I also feel I have been spoiled having Brazen Beau stabled at Godolphin. I have found it to be a most relaxed environment, and this has a knock-on effect that is very beneficial.
It means the trainer is happier, the staff are happier, and most importantly, the horses are happier.
Being a visitor in Britain, particularly to an important fixture such as Newmarket's July Meeting, you inevitably find yourself drawing comparisons with what we have back home.
I think everybody knows that we in Australia are fortunate enough to have an impressively high level of prizemoney. But when you travel, you realise there are other aspects of racing that are just as important.
The actual day-to-day working schedule for those involved with horses, from top to bottom, is a tough one. In Sydney and Melbourne, where I have stables, we start very early in the morning.
At home, we would have three quarters of the horses worked by 6.30am. This means a 4am start, at the latest.
It also means that I can rarely go out to dinner the night before. There is hardly any socialising with owners, or even family and friends for that matter. You find yourself constantly rushing to get horses prepared and worked to meet the early deadlines each morning.
If I could take one thing back to Australia it would be a later starting time for work each morning. Over here, it has been refreshing not to have to rush to get the training finished before a certain time. That can only be a good thing.
Another aspect of racing on which we should focus is promotion of our race meetings. The crowds here at Newmarket this week are proof that the message is getting through to people that going racing is a great day out for all.
As for Brazen Beau and the Darley July Cup, I am happy with him going into the race. We were very proud of him at Royal Ascot, where he finished second in the Diamond Jubilee.
He showed everybody that day what a class sprinter he is. He has tremendous speed and great determination.
The July Course is demanding, and it takes a special type of horse to win a Darley July Cup. I think he has all the qualities required.
Chris Waller came from New Zealand to settle in Australia in 2000. By his own admission, he had two maxed-out credit cards and little else when he started training at Rosehill in Sydney. From 4 winners in his first year, he has progressed to be at the top of the trainers' list. He is renowned for his handling of European imports.
