Johns and Robinson to attend More Joyous inquiry

Key witnesses rugby league great Andrew Johns and ex-jockey Allan Robinson have confirmed that they will appear at the John Singleton – Gai WaterhouseMore Joyous inquiry when it reconvened early next week.

more joyous

More Joyous, the centre of the John Singleton - Gai Waterhouse inquiry. Photo by Steve Hart

Johns, Robinson and noted punter and business man Eddie Hayson were all absent from Monday’s six hour hearing relating to Singleton’s verbal attack of his trainer Gai Waterhouse in the mounting yard prior to and after his mare More Joyous finished unplaced behind All Too Hard in the Group 1 $400,000 Yarraman Park All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 27.

The three key witnesses were again asked to attend the continuing inquiry with Racing New South Wales with Hayson the only one not responding to date.

Singleton confronted Waterhouse and alleged that her bookmaker son Tom Waterhouse had prior knowledge that More Joyous was not one hundred percent and would not win the All Aged Stakes.

Waterhouse denied these allegations which Singleton claimed he received from Johns and Robinson on race morning with Singleton subsequently removing all of his horses from Waterhouse’s stable.

Racing New South Wales chairman of stewards Ray Murrihy headed up the inquiry at the main Sydney offices in the city which turned into a massive live reality TV drama with media, photographers and TV cameramen blocking the entrance to the Druitt Street building before the commencement of the hearing.

After taking evidence from Singleton, Gai and Tom Waterhouse, Waterhouse’s stable foreman and vet as well as Singleton’s vet, the hearing turned into a side show slanging match with Gai Waterhouse at one stage calling Singleton, who has been a friend and client for many years, a “sham.”

“You’re an absolute sham, John,’” Gai Waterhouse said.

“This has all come from a footballer, a brothel owner and a trumped up jockey and you’ve used it to discredit my son, my husband and myself.”

The inquiry was adjourned after the six hour hearing with the resumption date to be confirmed.

“We will be giving consideration to the large volume of evidence at hand and whether charges will be laid, and we hope to bring this inquiry to a swift and satisfactory conclusion,” Murrihy said.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.