Singleton fined $15,000, Waterhouse pleads not guilty, inquiry adjourned

John Singleton was fined $15,000 on two charges of conduct prejudicial to racing while Gai Waterhouse pleaded not guilty to two charges relating to not reporting the pre-race treatment of More Joyous prior to the inquiry revolving around the mare being adjourned until next Monday.

more joyous

More Joyous is the centre of the inquiry relating to her poor performance in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Stewards originally fined Singleton $20,000 but this was reduced to $15,000 because of his good behaviour record over a long period of time and his guilty plea.

The More Joyous, Gai Waterhouse, John Singleton inquiry relating to More Joyous’ below par run in the Group 1 $400,000 Yarraman Park All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 27 heard some startling new evidence when it resumed at Racing New South Wales headquarters in Sydney today before charges were laid against the leading trainer and the high profile owner.

The inquiry kicked off it’s second day hearing evidence with key witnesses Andrew Johns, Eddie Hayson and ex-jockey Allan Robinson arriving to give their version of evidents which led to the mounting yard confrontation before and after the running of the All Aged Stakes.

Singleton was upset that Waterhouse hadn’t informed him that his mare More Joyous had been under treatment during the week leading up to the All Aged Stakes and that others knew of her setback.

Singleton claimed that he was informed by Johns and Robinson on race morning and said that the information allegedly came from Waterhouse’s bookmaker son Tom Waterhouse.

Gai Waterhouse denied passing on any information about More Joyous to Tom with the bookmaker also denying that he told Johns that the mare couldn’t win.

After spending all day last Monday hearing evidence, chief steward Ray Murrihy adjourned the inquiry until today to get Johns, Robinson and Hayson’s stories.

While Johns said that Tom Waterhouse didn’t say that More Joyous couldn’t win, Hayson said that Johns seemed very negative about the mare when he spoke to him leading up to the race.

“What came across from Andrew Johns was very negative,” Hayson said.

“He (Johns) was saying that Tom Waterhouse didn’t fancy or like it, whatever, whatever.”

Hayson went on to intrigue the inquiry when he handed Murrihy two names on a piece of paper, saying that was where he got information that More Joyous had a problem.

Hayson also went on to say that he spoke to Robinson on Saturday morning who then rang Singleton who said the More Joyous was fine.

Robinson then called Hayson with Hayson saying “To the best of my knowledge he (Robinson) said ‘Singo’ said the horse was fine or words to that effect.”

Then Hayson added “Everyone knew it had problems except Singo and it was going to run to below expectations.”

More Joyous did race below expectations and the $3 second favourite faded in the straight to finish seventh to All Too Hard in the eight horse field.

The inquiry was adjourned for a second time and will reconvene next Monday to proceed with the charges against Gai Waterhouse.

The two charges are that under Rule 140 (a) she failed to report to stewards any condition or occurrence that may have affected More Joyous in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 27 and Rule 178 F(1) which deals with Waterhouse having failed to keep proper records of treatments administered to More Joyous to rectify a neck injury leading up to the race.

Singleton accepted the stewards’ charges of conduct prejudicial to racing and after pleading guilty said his mounting yard behaviour was ”inappropriate and regrettable”.

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.