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John Tapp Racing

John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.

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Episode 513: Jamie Mott

At the time this podcast was recorded on Thursday January 30th, Jamie Mott had ridden 71 Victorian winners for the current season, with only Blake Shinn ahead of him on the premiership ladder. A few hours later he booted home two winners at the Pakenham twilight meeting taking him to 73. On Friday evening he was at the Moonee Valley night meeting where after three early placings he won the final race on Excess for great supporter Julius Sandhu. His seven rides at Sandown on Saturday yielded a win on Russian Meteor and one placegetter. Winner tally was now 75. Jamie talks about his current run of success for a wide range of stables. He talks about the never ending task of keeping his weight where it needs to be. The in- form jockey speaks glowingly of My Gladiola and Royal Insignia, two young horses who could provide him with stakes success over the autumn carnival. He also reflects on the Blue Diamond that slipped through his fingers in 2022. Jamie pays tribute to Royal Insignia’s dam Yau Chin who had to be euthanised the day before his Manfred Stakes win. The jockey talks of his family background and agrees he was destined to be a jockey. Jamie talks of his early apprenticeship to his late grandmother Janet and a transfer to the Flemington stables of Leon Corstens. He’s still embarrassed about his very first race ride at Cranbourne on a Corstens trained mare. Jamie hasn’t forgotten about his first win on a horse trained by his grandmother. He led all the way. He looks back on a short stint with Danny O’Brien during which time he received a suspension. He was stunned when his weight suddenly soared to 62kgs. Disillusioned, he quit his apprenticeship and returned home to Geelong. When the bug bit again, Jamie based himself at Cranbourne and began riding work for a wide range of trainers. His weight came down and he was able to return to race riding. He talks about another setback in 2009 when he failed a jockey’s room drug test. Outed for six months he made up his mind to keep his weight in check. Jamie looks back on the freak winning run he enjoyed on the comeback trail- something like 24 winners in the first month. Lady luck hadn’t quite finished with young Mott. He went through a trifecta of trauma all in the space of a week- a race fall, a trackwork fall and an unexpected assault at a Melbourne nightclub. Doctors sidelined him for many months. Jamie’s life took a turn for the better when he returned to trackwork next time around. He was a massive 71kgs when he linked up with the late Russell Cameron at Flemington- a man destined to become his mentor, his best mate and his salvation. The jockey endorses the sentiments of Victorian participants who were deeply saddened by Russell Cameron’s premature passing. Jamie talks of his good fortune in meeting his future wife at the Cameron stables. Carol Ann was a member of the team and it wasn’t long before she and Jamie became partners. He looks back on the fairytale wedding he and Carol Ann were able to enjoy in a 13th century Irish village. He talks of the wonderful family life he and Carol Ann share with their sons Henry (7) and Charlie (4). Jamie looks back on his brief but successful stint as a jumps jockey. He had the time of his life. The 178cm jockey talks of the bizarre fall in 2019 which left him with two broken legs. He was off the scene for six long months. Jamie was hungry for winners when he returned to the saddle and he didn’t have to wait long. At his very first ride back he stormed home on Rock the Ring to win a maiden at Sale, and the winners continued to flow. Jamie’s maiden Gr 1 win was on Callsign Mav in the Rupert Clarke Stakes for Danny O’Brien. He says he was worried on the turn. The jockey talks about his second win at the elite level. A lucky late ride paved the way for a thrilling win in the Champion’s Sprint at Flemington on expat Kiwi mare Roch ‘N’ Horse who made a habit of upsetting high profile opposition. This is a laid back interview w

49min
28 DE JAN.

Episode 512: Opie Bosson - ONZM

The legendary jockey’s sudden retirement announcement in December caught the NZ racing industry by surprise. Opie says he’d been contemplating retirement for six months but it took a simple experience on Xmas Day to convince him the time was right. The champion jockey was out jogging on Xmas morning, wearing his mandatory heavy sweat gear when he was suddenly conscious of passers by in high spirits, out enjoying life on such a special day. Opie was unplaced on 3 rides at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Driving home to Matamata after the races he made the massive decision to call time on his stellar 30 year career. He says the withdrawal symptoms have been manageable so far. Opie says he was a little hesitant as he sat down to type out his retirement announcement for release on social media. The jockey says weight issues have plagued him for many years. He explains just how tough it’s been over time. He reminds us that he walked away from racing more than twenty years ago when wasting got the better of him. He spent eighteen months out of the industry during which time he gave the rugby code some serious attention. Kiwis and Australians alike have been curious about the champion jockey’s unusual christian name. He puts forward a simple explanation. Opie talks about an apprenticeship to his godfather Steve Autridge, at the time head trainer for the Te Akau machine. He says Autridge has been an important influence in his life. He talks about the TeAkau training operation at Matamata, and the breathtaking environment of Te Akau Stud in the Waikato, where it all begins for the David Ellis homebreds. Opie was happy to wander down memory lane. He’s never forgotten his very first day as a professional jockey. His first winning ride in 1995 left an indelible memory. The brilliant jockey announced his arrival in a big way. He was only 17 when he won his first Gr 1, the 1998 Auckland Cup on Jezabeel. Opie wasn’t retained on Jezabeel in the Melbourne Cup of the same year but was lucky enough to get on a wonderful NZ staying filly during the same carnival. He won the historic Victoria Oaks on Grand Archway. Shortly before that Melbourne carnival he made a quick trip to NSW as a favour to a young Kiwi friend who was just getting started as a trainer in Sydney. He happened to ride the trainer’s first Australian winner in an obscure maiden at Wyong. Opie looks back on some stunning NZ career statistics. He makes no secret of the fact that the brilliant sprinting mare Imperatriz was his all time favourite. He talks about the brilliant mare’s best performances. Second only to Imperatriz on Bosson’s list of favourites is the dynamic Melody Belle. He looks back on 6 Gr 1 wins on the wonderful mare. He was delighted to partner Melody Belle in her only Australian Gr 1 victory. He speaks with great admiration of another top tier Te Akau mare, the talented Avantage. He rode her in eight of sixteen wins which included five Gr 1’s. Opie looks back on his association with several other exciting horses he got to ride in the famous tangerine and royal blue Te Akau colours. He makes special mention of the lightly raced Te Akau Shark. He says we never saw the best of this exciting Rip Van Winkle gelding. The 99 time Gr 1 winning rider devotes extra time to his memories of Mongolian Khan, the top class stayer who gave him victory in two of Australia’s most famous races. Opie came back to ride him in three Sydney races the following autumn, but says he wasn’t the same horse. The jockey pays a warm tribute to Mongolian Khan’s trainer Murray Baker. The newly inducted retiree speaks of his three children. He and first wife Samantha Spratt are the parents of 19 year old Cody who shares his father’s love of hunting and fishing. Opie talks of the two younger children he shares with second wife Emily- Max who’s six, and daughter Honour who’s nearing three years of age. The Auckland Racing Club acknowledged Opie’s impact on NZ racing when they released a

46min
21 DE JAN.

Episode 511: Gary Willetts- Former Star Jockey Pays Tribute To Some of The Great Horses of his Era

Received a couple of emails lately requesting information on two former elite racehorses. My correspondents are two younger racing enthusiasts curious about the deeds of Battle Heights and Manikato- the former a dour New Zealand stayer, the latter a dynamic Australian sprinter of the late 70’s and early 80’s. By coincidence both horses were ridden many times in races by Gary Willetts, an expatriate Kiwi jockey who settled in Australia in late 1975 destined for undreamed of success. Who better to reflect on the talents of both horses? My emailers are probably unaware of a 2021 podcast we posted with Gary Willetts right at the height of the covid lockdowns. In this interview the former champion jockey comprehensively reviews the careers of Battle Heights, Manikato and several other wonderful horses he got to ride. Let’s give it another run this week. Gary admits he didn’t want to come to Australia to ride Battle Heights in 1974. He says the NZ jockey’s premiership was his primary focus. The former ace jockey talks of his move into the hotel business after a career ending race fall. He looks back on the injury toll from that fateful fall at Yarra Glen. Gary takes us back to childhood days in Auckland when he frequently attended race meetings with his parents. He reflects on work experience in the stables of leading trainer Fred Smith who later indentured him. Gary looks back on his first winner Silver Lad who started at massive odds. He remembers his chance meeting at the races with the young lady from Matamata destined to become his wife. The Willetts are closing in on 60 years of marriage. The former ace jockey has never forgotten the horse who changed his life. He takes us through the remarkable career of iron gelding Battle Heights. Gary was stable jockey for Bon Hoysted when a precocious, chestnut son of Manihi arrived in the stables. He remembers Manikato’s quirky early habits and takes us through the highlights of the powerhouse sprinter’s amazing career. He reflects on the training genius of Bob Hoysted who took over the training of Manikato following the sudden death of his brother Bon. Willetts pays tribute to several other topliners he got to ride beginning with Rose Of Kingston who in 1982 became the first filly in 38 years to win the AJC Derby. This was my first interview with Gary Willetts in many years. It was a delight to catch up with a true gentleman of the turf, and the rider of some of the best horses of his era.

53min
14 DE JAN.

Episode 510: Vlad Duric

Following in the footsteps of jockeys like Jeff Lloyd, Robbie Fradd and Larry Cassidy, Vlad Duric has chosen Brisbane as home base for the latter years of his riding career. Vlad arrived in Queensland early last year after a wonderfully successful six years in Singapore where he won four local jockey’s premierships and a host of feature races. A Doomben treble got him away to a flying start and the winners have continued to flow. The veteran rider says his passion for race riding hasn’t diminished. Vlad talks about the great support he’s received from Brisbane trainers since arriving in Queensland. He talks about a quartet of stakes wins to come his way including the Gr 2 Victory Stakes on talented galloper Antino. Vlad says he decided on a brief stint in his native Victoria last August to coincide with the beginning of daughter Sage’s riding career. The jockey was surprised and delighted to pick up rides from old friends. To ride a couple of Gippsland winners was a bonus. Vlad acknowledges the talents of his 22 year old daughter, and brings us up to date on the career direction taken by Sage’s sisters Lily and Audrey. He pays tribute to his wife Storm, herself a former jockey who rode ten winners in a brief career. Vlad reveals the European origins of his first and second names and reflects on the support he was given by hard working parents Steve And Elina when he opted for a riding career. He looks back on his apprenticeship to Cranbourne trainer Alan Williams and the enduring friendship he formed with Alan’s son Craig. The forty seven year old looks back on the milestone achievements of his early career- first winner, first city winner and initial Gr 1 success. Vlad fondly remembers Gr 1 winner Bon Hoffa as the first high quality horse he got to ride. He sings the praises of Bon Hoffa’s trainer Wendy Kelly. Appropriately Vlad Duric pays a lengthy tribute to Master O’Reilly, a horse he rode in 30 races and the horse to take him to racing’s biggest stage with a Caulfield Cup win in 2007. There are some interesting sidelights to the Master O’Reilly story, especially the drama in the barriers before the running of the Caulfield Cup. Vlad remembers his first trip to Singapore in 2009 and the flying start he gained on brilliant three year old Gingerbread Man. He won 51 races in his first season. He looks back on a return to Victoria and his association with the very talented horse Mourinho. He won the Gr 1 Underwood Stakes on Mourinho plus three other Gr 2 races. Vlad comprehensively covers his return to Singapore and a six year stay that brought him four jockeys premierships and many feature races. He looks back on the outstanding horses and horsemen who made it all possible. There were a handful of health related low points in the latter stages of his time in Singapore. He says he was stopped in his tracks on three occasions. Vlad Duric has been a popular and well respected jockey for more than three decades. He shares his story with us in a most entertaining way.

1h
7 DE JAN.

Episode 509: Luke Nolen

When Luke Nolen’s in full swing it’s difficult to get him to sit still long enough to conduct an interview. Currently he’s on the sidelines indefinitely following a freakish fall at Geelong early in December. Although frustrated and in some discomfort, the champion jockey gave us all the time we needed to get a podcast “in the can”. What a career it’s been for the Victorian born horseman whose riding record is one of Australian racing’s most enviable. Almost 2000 wins, 40 Gr 1’s, three Melbourne jockey’s premierships and two Scobie Breasley medals. There was an awful lot to talk about. Luke begins by taking us through the horror Geelong fall which was attributable to a broken stirrup leather. He talks of surgery already completed and what lies ahead. Luke reflects on early days when his dad Tal took the family all over Australia looking for suitable job opportunities. The jockey talks of school days and an aversion to study. He pays tribute to Tal, to his late mother Margaret and brother Shaun. Luke looks back on a move back to Victoria when Tal was able to arrange an apprenticeship with master mentor Gerald Egan. Like most apprentices he hasn’t forgotten the buzz around his very first win at Albury in 1998. Luke talks of the reputation he quickly earned as an unflappable young rider. He remembers two nicknames he picked up in his youth, and the circumstances behind their creation. He looks back on time spent with former champion trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith at Flemington. Luke was thrilled beyond belief to win his first Gr 1 race for the maestro Bart Cummings. He clearly remembered the first ride he ever had for Peter Moody. The jockey talks of his enduring relationship with Moody and gives the reasons that partnership has stood the test of time. By his own admission Luke says he never tires of talking about Black Caviar. He won 22 of 25 on the champion mare. He agrees Jarrod Noske and Ben Melham who rode her in the other three wins will have something to tell their grandchildren. Luke says Black Caviar was an uncomplicated race mare. He pinpoints the best of her 25 wins. Looks back on her near defeat at Royal Ascot in 2012. He says she was battling niggling muscle issues on the day. He talks of Black Caviar’s tendency to “come back underneath him” in the closing stages. He also heaps praise on runner up Moonlight Cloud who went within a head of destroying the great mare’s iconic record. Luke talks of the champion’s debilitating fight with laminitis and subsequent euthanisation. To add to the tragedy Black Caviar’s Snitzel colt also died. The star jockey highlights a few personal favourites from the long list of outstanding horses he’s ridden beginning with Typhoon Tracey. He looks back on Peter Moody’s decision to walk away from racing following his suspension on cobalt charges. Luke acknowledges the deeds of elite gallops I Wish I Win, and El Segundo. He pays tribute to Alicia his wife of 17 years, and children Dane and Kailey. Luke says he’s grateful to have three Melbourne jockey’s premierships and two Scobie Breasley medals on his CV. We close the podcast by referring to a quote from Gerard Whateley’s 2012 biography on Black Caviar. Gerard goes behind the public persona in identifying the real Luke Nolen.

1h5min
29/12/2024

Episode 508: Ross Stitt - Legendary North Coast Trainer Calls Time On Sixty Year Career

There was one common thread among the hundreds of tributes paid to Ross Stitt after his recent retirement. Unequivocally, friends and fellow horsemen agreed that the 83 year old had been an ornament to his profession as a man and a professional horse trainer. I’d like to add my sentiments by plucking from the archives an interview we recorded with Ross almost six years ago. He was in reminiscent mood on the day, and took us on a nostalgic journey through his life with horses. Ross began by reflecting on childhood days on the family dairy farm in the Manning Valley. He was milking the cows from age 9 before going to school. He says showjumping was his first equine passion, and it appears he was pretty adept at the sport. Ross recalls that his first thoroughbred idol was the legendary broodmare Dark Jewel. He formed the attachment simply because he had a show jumper called “Jewel” at the time. It’s not widely known that Ross Stitt could easily have pursued a career in harness racing. His earliest tutor was trots trainer Ned Coleman. He says he was very close to acquiring his licence to drive in races. Ross says he was 24 years old when he bought his first galloper Bold Pirate from an Inglis Mixed Sale. He initially gave the maiden performer to a local trainer, but later took over the training himself. He remembers ex Sydney gallopers Gold Optic and Royal Kirk as the horses to get him up and running on north coast tracks. The retired trainer rates Critic’s Pride as his first headline horse. That’s no surprise when you consider Critic’s Pride won a whopping 29 races for his up and coming trainer. Ross Stitt had the amazing ability to keep horses up for lengthy periods and to keep them winning. Half brothers Our Ambition and Gilded Blue are two prime examples. They won 48 races between them. He acknowledges the support of owner Ron Shaw, a former accountant who settled in nearby Old Bar following his retirement. He and Ross enjoyed a great association. Ross talks about his infatuation with Sir Dapper, a brilliant racehorse who later became a successful sire. The trainer won multiple races in the late 90’s and early 2000’s with Dapper Spirit, Just Dapper and Chilli Dapper. He pays a heartfelt tribute to former record breaking jockey Robert Thompson who retired just under three years after our podcast was recorded. Thompson rode more winners for the Stitt stable than any other rider. Ross looks back on his pleasing record in NSW Country Cups. Surprisingly it took him 35 years to win a Kempsey Cup. The veteran trainer was fairly emphatic in declaring Precise Timing to be the best horse he ever trained. An inveterate trier, Precise Timing won a total of 18 races including the 2006 Launceston Cup. Ross explains what prompted him to venture all the way to Tasmania. He delights in telling the story of Heavenly Glow, the $10,000 Gold Coast purchase destined to win two Gr 1 races. When he realised the filly was good enough to run at the elite level, Ross had no hesitation in sending her to a Sydney trainer. Ross tells the story of Youthful Jack, the unfashionably bred gelding who would win 18 races and $1.15 million in prize money. He placed him with other trainers at varying stages with great results- Rex Lipp at Toowoomba, Allan Denham in Sydney and Adam Trinder in Tasmania. Ross himself won 7 races with Youthful Jack including the Grafton Ramornie Hcp. The recently retired trainer pays tribute to some of the talented riders with whom he was associated over the years. This podcast has been in the archives for quite some time but remains relevant by way of our tribute to a country training marvel.

37min
21/12/2024

Episode 507: Scott Seamer remembers his Golden Group run of the early 2000's

It came as a surprise recently to learn that I hadn’t interviewed Scott Seamer since 2003 when he flew from Ballina to be a guest on Sky’s Inside Racing programme. At the time of the interview the former northern rivers jockey had posted an amazing 15 Gr wins in two years following on from a Queensland Oaks victory on Ethereal in 2001. A few months later Scott landed the coveted Caulfield and Melbourne double on the same wonderful staying mare. Since quitting the saddle in 2011 the former ace jockey has joined the ranks of Australia’s commercial breeders. I was delighted he was able to find the time to join us on our regular racing podcast and equally delighted to find him in reminiscent mood. Scott was thrilled to see Ethereal’s trainer Sheila Laxon win her second Melbourne Cup with Knight’s Choice in November. He talks about the transformation of his Fernleigh property from a macadamia farm to commercial breeding enterprise. Scott says his first duty as a breeder was to find the right foundation mare. He’s now breeding from four of her daughters. He talks of his breeding share in a high profile Queensland stallion. The multiple Gr 1 winning jockey previews his four horse draft being prepared for the Inglis Classic Sale in February. Scott remembers his unhappy departure from race riding at Doomben in late 2011. He takes us back to his first time on a racecourse in the late 1970’s. He tagged along with his mother and stepfather to a Bowraville meeting, and was instantly hooked. Scott looks back on a stablehand’s job with Coffs Harbour trainer John Hennessy, and the offer of an apprenticeship from Grafton trainer Ron Gosling. Very clear in his memory is the occasion of his first race ride at Lismore. He tipped the scales at 32 kgs. Scott talks of his thrilling first win at Casino and the transition to a metropolitan win at Eagle Farm in 1987. He pays tribute to Protester, the genuine bush galloper who gave him an amazing twenty wins. The former ace jockey looks back on his relocation from the northern rivers to Glen Innes. He enjoyed a very successful five years from his tablelands base, and forged an association with a champion country trainer. Scott talks of his decision to give Brisbane racing a serious shot. He was encouraged to make the move by outstanding jockey manager Trevor Lansky who brought him unexpected opportunities. Seamer talks of Ethereal’s outstanding win in the Queensland Oaks. She came with the barnstorming finish destined to become her trademark. He admits to chasing the ride on the bonny mare when she resumed in NZ in the spring of 2001. He offered to pay his own way across the ditch. Scott recalls his tense battle with Sky Heights in the Caulfield Cup, and the wet weather leading up to the Melbourne Cup. He takes us through Ethereal’s brilliant Cup win. He talks about a McKinnon Stakes win on Derby day. Thanks to his new NZ connections Scott was able to land some plum rides over the 2001 Auckland summer carnival. He looks back on a memorable Derby/Oaks double at Ellerslie. The former jockey started the new year with a bang winning the Magic Millions on Lovely Jubly. He recalls the race. Scott remembers a successful autumn carnival in Melbourne highlighted by wins in the C.F Orr and Australian Guineas. The former talented horseman still shakes his head when he thinks about a four win haul on Golden Slipper day 2002- two Gr 2’s and two Gr 1’s. He remembers the wins by Ethereal and Calaway Gal. Seamer’s dazzling autumn win sequence earned him a short term contract in Hong Kong. He later wished that invitation hadn’t arrived. He fractured two vertebrae in a nasty fall and was out of action for several months. Up to this point in time, Scott had been treated very kindly by the racing media. That changed when he was beaten on Bel Esprit in the Manikato Stakes. He handled it philosophically. He says he felt the need to make a statement when the 2003 autumn carnival got under way in Sydney. He ma

1h2min
17/12/2024

Episode 506: Graham Power

I’d lost count of the number of country racing fans who’d requested a podcast with retired jockey Graham Power. Whenever the subject of top Riverina jockeys had come up over the years, Graham’s name was always on the list. A phone call to check his availability and some quick research followed, and we were good to go. Great to present a podcast with a horseman who never rode a winner as an apprentice, but sure as hell made up for it later. Graham begins by looking back on his final day as a jockey at Wagga in 2000. He says he was delighted to ride a winner on a very emotional day. Graham talks about the way in which he handled the withdrawal symptoms. He talks about his current involvement with the famous St. Vincents De Paul charity organisation in Wagga. The former ace jockey refutes the theory that he’s a native of the Riverina. Graham talks about his childhood in Tamworth. He says there was no racing in his family background, but reveals that his grandfather Tom worked as a street sweeper in the 1920’s using horse and dray. He remembers his first job on the ground in a Newcastle stable before a return to Tamworth and a short lived first apprenticeship. Injuries sustained in a race fall saw him walk away from racing and find a job at the local abbatoirs. Graham recalls the chance conversation at a Tamworth race meeting that led to the renewal of his jockey’s licence. He looks back on his friendship with trainer Bede Delaney whose move to Gundagai would change his life. Power reflects on the deeds of one of the best horses he rode for the Delaney stable, prolific winner Aurilandy. He talks of Aurilandy’s two wins down the famous Flemington straight and the opportunity to ride the horse in the famous Epsom Hcp. Nothing went right at his only Gr 1 ride. Graham talks about his move to Wagga. He acknowledges some of the handy horses he got to ride over the next few years. Graham looks back on a Cootamundra Cup win on a future Melbourne Cup winner. He thought very little of the horse at the time. He remembers with affection wins in the Albury and Wagga Cups. Graham remembers the Richard Freyer trained Prince Tone, a talented horse provided he didn’t have to travel too far to race meetings. He pays tribute to several other bush Cup winners. Graham delights in telling the story about his two rides on champion Kingston Town. The former outstanding rider looks back on some special race days when he rode multiple winners on the programme. He reels off some of the many jobs he’s had away from racing. He talks of some of his favourite Riverina trainers and delights in the fact that he rode the first winner ever trained by Gary Portelli, now entrenched in the top bracket of Sydney’s trainers. Graham pays tribute to a select group of his favourite country jockeys. He looks back on some serious race falls including one in which he appeared to suffer no injuries. By the time he got home the situation had changed dramatically. The 79 year old talks of past involvement in racing administration and a current “on call” role for Racing NSW. The versatile veteran talks back on his experience driving harness horses and a stint as a newspaper columnist. He looks back on one of his proudest moments as a jockey-the occasion of his 1000th win on SDRA tracks. Graham looks back on his two marriages and a double tragedy in his life. He pays tribute to daughter Tracey, and sons Steven and Ben. A nostalgic trip down memory lane with a man dubbed “the George Moore of Riverina racing” in his era by Sky Thoroughbred Central host Graeme White.

55min

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John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.

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