Talisman

Winning at the GreenAcres Showjumping Grand Prix on my A Grade show jumper, Talisman. circa 1975.

My love of riding began at a very tender age at The Queen Elizabeth Riding Stables in Epping Forrest and later at Beauport Park Stables in Battle, Sussex.
As my riding became more proficient I tried my luck at show jumping. All this was in England in the 60's where I competed with my school team at Hickstead in 1965.
My role models in those days were Marion Mould, Pat Smythe, David Broome and Harvey Smith. Their mounts included such wonderful horses as the diminutive Stroller, Flanagan, Mr Softee and Harvester. Show jumping at Empire Pool, Wembley, in those days was my favourite Television viewing.

Me at Hickstead 1964/5
Left: Friend Susan Blandford. ... Right: Myself at Hickstead in 1964/5

We moved to Australia eventually settling in Perth - however when my father Alun died in early 1976 I seriously turned to show jumping as my chosen profession and only income stream.
The vast majority of my horses were bought cheaply,either directly from the race track or from Midland Sale yard where they were destined to become pet food. I then re educated them as show horses.
Talisman was bred by the Reilly brothers in Busselton. Tails started life as "Young Pedro" sired by "Copper Mine" and trained by Bob Cramp in Jandakot.

I was fortuante enough to have some very talented students, they included...

A Graders, Talisman, Corinto Hills, Grand Mannon, Damask, Inch' Allah, Liberty Val.

B Graders were Merry Mellay, Ghost Story, Bold Park, Bretton Park, Corvale, Rumour, Metric.

C & D graders who were on sold included Legend, Vice Regal, The Birdcatcher, Wendover Vale, Lord Themus, Corn Whiskey, North O' The Border, Wolarra.

In the late 70's I worked as private trainer/rider for the late Laurie Connell at his Bedfordale property, Narbethong. There I produced horses the callibre of Revival, Royal Envoy, Blue Aqua. Other prominent Perth identities that I trained show horses for included Michael Kailis, Peter Beckwith and Rod Evans.
During the following two decades I would also renew acquaintances with many of these businessmen training gallopers for them.

Eyes On You : Winner - Bunbury Stakes 1990. Jockey - Laurie Millington.

Multiple city Winner including four in a row at Ascot.

"Eyes On You" - A wonderful miler for me. Eyes won well over $110,000 in the late 80's. Eyes undoubtedly contributed to setting up my current lifestyle and is buried here on my property LochWind.

In 1982 I first ventured into the world of horse racing, from then until 1996 when I retired,
I was fortunate to have trained some very successful horses.
In the 1989/90 season I was second leading trainer & leading woman trainer, in Western Australia for percentage of winners to runners. This was calculated only on trainers that had produced more than ten runners in the metropolitan meetings that season.

Top city performers hailing from my stables were -:
Another Omen - Smashed Placid Ark's Ascot 1200m record for me, then went on to win the Champion Fillies Stakes.
Rose Chapeau - won many good city races and placed 3rd in the Bunbury Cup. Winner of the Belmont Oaks.
Sursum Sootie - a very good stayer. Sootie won ten races including the St Ledger.
Auburn Ark - argueably my best sprinter. This mare claimed the Winfield Stakes amongst her twelve wins.
Eyes On You - a terrific miler who won so many good Perth races for me, the Bunbury Cup & EG Green Cup.

Other well known winners from my stable included, Regimental Colours, He's A Natural, Just Like Diamonds, Portique, Nira, Lincoln's Court, Art of the Deal, Earrings & Lace, Tiny Maverick, Swift Huntsman, If I Am, Forrest Chase, Tira Mi Su, Run Forrest Run, Noah's Rock, Shango Man, Sogno D'oro, Forrest Kingdom, Go Helix, More Cards, Lord Chercaro, Jonijuana, Gradient, Just In Control, Sharp Cheval etc.

I owe a lot to the wind beneath my wings, my great friend and mentor Ernie Smith, Ernie taught me to believe in myself against the odds. A brother of legendary trainer TJ Smith who is of course, the father of now top Sydney trainer Gaye Waterhouse.

Whilst training racehorses, I always donated ten percent of my winning to the Fred Hollows Foundation.
I believe that no one should just take and not give something back to those less fortunate!

"There but for the grace of god go I".
Far too many forget to look around and appreciate the truth in that, in my opinion!

Many bitterly jealous persona's in both racing and dogs have surmised that I had in some way, had everything simply handed to me on a silver platter.

Nothing could be further from the truth ...

In 1976 I had no money, no home, no family, no support of any kind, physical, emotional or financial!

What I have done in my life, I have done alone, by hard work and dedication - pure and simple.

Everyone has a chance to succeed IF the drive is strong enough and the effort applied sufficient you reap the rewards. If not I guess you become bitter and twisted ?

The ones I despise are the ones who harbour the "Tall Poppy Syndrome" They live to gain pleasure from cutting one down.

Now that I have seen the light, I no longer move in those circles.
I intend to "really" enjoy whatever is left of my life.

Life is too short to be dragged down by deceit, bitterness, hidden agendas and unpleasantries don't you think ?
My aim now is to spend time with only positive people and not be dragged down by the negative ones.

So on my wish list are Alaska, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Egypt is another destination that I would love to visit. So many wonderful sights to behold there.

Who knows what the future may hold ? But right now life has never looked so damn good ! Even more important are sincere friends. Also wonderful cuisine and sensational red wines are also on my quest for the ultimate experience.

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