3 minute read
Trainer Michael Gatty has the best of both worlds and when he lands that elusive winner there is nothing quite like it.
The 61-year-old will have a major part of his small team racing at Moruya on Tuesday – the first of five meetings for the club over an eight-week period.
"We had a winner last week at the Sapphire Coast and it's the best feeling when you train a winner," he said in reference to the win by Gorush Lightning at odds of $12.
"I also own a real estate business at Tuross Head so between the horses and that it keeps me busy."
Michael Gatty has four acceptors, but is waiting to see if Buskers Rush gains a start before loading up his truck for the 6km trip into the track.
It's a path he travels four or five days a week to exercise his horses and when they aren't training they have the benefit of the rural environment where he trains. His horses don't get stabled in the traditional sense and instead have the run of his property until it comes closer to race time.
Gatty will start Smart Stride and Urjuwaan in the Thank You Eurobodalla Fiery's Maiden (1425m) – the race being one of several named after local emergency services.
Only last week, Gatty gave Wagga apprentice jockey Molly Bourke her first ride for the stable aboard Gorush Lightning and she has been rewarded with the mount on Smart Stride.
Top jockey Winona Costin will ride Urjuwaan who had more than two years off racing before returning with four starts for Gatty. Her best display was a third at Moruya when she was beaten less than a length on July 21.
"She is a daughter of Snitzel with a good pedigree that I purchased some time back," he said. "This is the best she has been and I do like her chances on Tuesday.
"She is stepping out to a distance she will enjoy after racing over 1000 and 1200 metres."
Like her stablemate, Smart Stride has been a long work in progress only racing four times since being purchased from Victoria.
Gatty prefers using female jockeys on his horses and will have Kaylia Nisbet partner Blue Glass in the Moruya Horse of the Year Kentucky Award Class 3 (920m). Nisbet was aboard when Blue Glass won her only race in 10 starts at the Sapphire Coast in February.
"I like the energy the girls bring when they ride my horses and they have no pre-conceived ideas on what they are riding," he said. "Blue Glass normally runs over 1100 to 1200 metres, but this race is shorter and will be a good pipe opener for her.
"Most of my horses will keep racing at the upcoming Moruya meetings because we have a few coming up on our doorstep for a couple of months."
Gatty, who has been training for close to 18 years, has his share of winners and likes to give his horses time to develop and find their best. He has several young horses coming through the ranks, but they won't start until later when fully matured.
Gorush Lightning is a case in point – he didn't start racing until he was a late four-year-old and now after more than 40 starts and has earned in excess of $150,000.
"That's good for a country horse and we are always looking for the next one," Gatty explained. "Both of my maiden horses have come along way and hopefully they can win their share of races.
"The horses are the reason you keep getting out of bed each morning and when you have a winner it makes it all worthwhile."
Gatty has a few jockeys ride his trackwork including trainer Colby Hill who will return with her first starter back on Monday. Hill's last runner was in October 2017, and she has Hallucinations entered although he is the second emergency.
The meeting is the first of the season in the South East and will acknowledge the high achievers of last season. Moruya trainer Natalie Jarvis took out the trainer's award and will have a few runners on Tuesday, while apprentice rider Brock Ryan was successful in the jockey's premiership.
